LIBRARY  OF  THE 
UNIVERSITY  OE  ILLINOIS 
AT  URBANA-CHAMPAIGN 

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(a)  of  the  University  Statutes, 
dl  books  and  other  library 
materials  acquired  in  any  man¬ 
ner  by  the  University  belong  to 
the  University  Library.  When 
this  item  is  no  longer  needed 
by  the  department,  it  should 
be  returned  to  the  Acquisition 
Department,  University  Library. 

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. ANNAEUS  SENECA 


TREATISES 

ON  PEOYIDENCE 
ON  TRANQUILLITY  OF  MIND 
ON  SHORTNESS  OF  LIFE 
ON  HAPPY .  LIFE 

TOGETHER  WITH 

SELECT  EPISTLES  ErtGRAMMATA  AN  INTRODUCTION  COPIOUS 
NOTES  AND  SCRIPTURE  PARALLELISMS 


By  JOHN  F.  HURST,  LL.D. 

AND 

HENRY  C.  WHITING,  Pii.D. 

PROFESSOR  OP  LATIN  AND  GERMAN  IN  DICKINSON  COLLEGE,  CARLISLE,  PA 

REVISED  EDITION 


NEW  YORK 

HARPER  &  BROTHERS,  PUBLISHERS 

FRANKLIN  SQUARE 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1877,  by 
Harper  &  Brothers, 

In  the  Office  of  the  Librarian  of  Congress,  at  Washington. 


^7/. 


PREFACE. 


The  present  edition  of  the  leading  Moral  Essays  of 
Lncins  Annaeus  Seneca  is  designed  as  a  text-book  for 
use  in  the  colleges  and  schools  of  the  United  States. 
The  editors  were  first  attracted  towards  its  preparation 
by  the  fact  that  no  edition  of  the  Latin  text  of  any  one 
of  the  essays  of  the  great  Homan  moralist  had  ever 
appeared  in  this  country.  Even  in  England  the  neg¬ 
lect  has  been  marked ;  for,  although  several  good 
translations  were  published  during  the  17th  and  18th 
centuries,  there  has  appeared  in  that  country  onl}^  one 
essay  of  Seneca  in  the  original  text  for  more  than 
three  centuries — viz.,  Ad  Gallionem  de  Remediis  For- 
tuitorum  (Lond.  1547).*  This  disregard,  in  the  Anglo- 
Saxon  countries,  of  the  authentic  works  of  the  greatest 
Homan  philosopher,  is  in  decided  contrast  with  the 
attention  which  they  have  received  in  the  Continental 
countries,  particularly  in  Germany,  Italy,  Holland, 
France,  and  Sweden.  Graesse  occupies  not  less  than 
fourteen  of  his  folio  pages,  in  double  columns,  with  the 


*  Graesse,  Tresor  de  Livres  Eares,  Vul.  VI.  pp.  34G  ff. 


11 


PREFACE. 


mere  titles  of  the  editions  of  the  text  or  translation 
of  Seneca’s  real  and  alleged  works,  from  the  revival 
of  classical  learning,  at  the  beginning  of  the  16th 
century,  down  to  the  present  time.  In  Holland  the 
most  critical  editorial  care  has  been  bestowed.  Har¬ 
wood  says  that  the  Elzevir  edition,  containing  the  notes 
of  Lipsius,  Gronovins,  and  others  (Amsterdam,  1672), 
was  printed  from  silver  types. 

The  editors  trust,  therefore,  that  they  are  supplying 
a  real  want  when  they  offer  to  the  American  public 
some  of  the  best  writings  of  the  long  unfamiliar  Seneca. 
The  text  employed  is  that  of  Fickert  (Leipzig,  1842-5), 
because,  though  not  the  most  recent,  it  is  by  far  the 
most  critical,  as  it  is  derived  from  MS.  authority.  The 
readings  of  Haase’s  edition  (Leipzig,  1851-3)  and  of 
other  editions  are  referred  to  in  the  Notes  as  occasion 
has  seemed  to  require.  The  orthography  is  confoi’ined 
to  that  now  generally  agreed  upon  by  scholars  as  the 
most  correct. 

The  Introduction  has  been  prepared  as  a  special  aid, 
not  only  for  the  better  understanding  of  the  personal 
relations  of  Seneca  to  his  times,  but  for  acquaintance 
with  the  ethical  and  philosophical  thought  of  Rome  at 
the  time  of  the  appearance  of  Christianity,  and  with 
the  entire  border-land  of  classic  culture  and  Christian 
truth.  The  Notes  are  intended  to  supply  every  proper 
want  of  the  student ;  at  the  same  time,  care  has  been 
taken  not  to  overburden  him  with  help,  and  thereby 


PREFACE. 


Ill 


interfere  with  or  discourage  individual  study  and  re¬ 
search.  It  is  the  bane  of  true  and  thorough  scholarship 
to  make  the  learner  a  mere  recipient,  all  the  work  hav¬ 
ing  been  done  to  his  hand.  Specially  difficult  or  un¬ 
usual  forms  of  words  are  explained  in  the  Notes.  It 
is  hoped  that  the  constant  references  to  the  principal 
Latin  Grammars  and  works  on  philologj^,  history,  and 
philosophy,  will  open  up  the  way  for  the  student  to 
make  himself  master  of  the  whole  range  of  topics  in 
Seneca’s  Moral  Treatises.* 

To  the  Moral  Treatises  have  been  added  Select 
Epistles  and  Epigrammata.  These  are  not  annotated, 
since,  if  the  student  have  read  the  preceding,  he  will 
liiid  no  difficulty  in  reading  and  enjoying  these.  As 


*  The  liberty  may  be  taken  here  to  recall  a  singular  circumstance  con¬ 
nected  with  the  publishing  house  from  whose  press  the  present  volume 
is  issued.  When  the  two  senior  brothers,  James  and  John  Harper, 
commenced  business,  they  confined  themselves  to  printing  books,  and 
entered  into  a  printing  partnership  in  Dover  Street,  New  York,  in  1817. 
The  first  book  which  they  printed  was  an  English  translation  of  Seneca’s 
Morals,  and  their  first  triumph  in  business  was  in  delivering  to  Mr. 
Evert  Duyckinck,  the  publisher  for  whom  they  printed,  2000  copies  of 
that  work,  on  August  5th,  1817.  In  the  following  year,  however,  we 
find  the  energetic  brothers  entering  into  more  important  relations  with 
the  public ;  for  they  issued  a  work  of  like  grave  import  with  Seneca— 
Locke’s  Essay  on  the  Human  Understanding — having  the  modest  im¬ 
print  of  “  J.  &  J.  Harper.”  The  little  Seneca,  every  type  of  which  was 
set  by  the  founders  of  the  Harper  publishing  house,  is  now  a  very  rare 
volume.  The  house  which  thus  began  soon  enlarged,  and  its  rise  and 
steady  growth,  like  that  of  Perthes  in  Germany,  and  of  the  Chambers 
Brothers  in  Edinburgh,  are  simply  an  index  of  that  growing  interest  in 
literature  which,  during  the  present  century,  has  been  a  distinguishing 
feature  in  the  development  of  all  the  aggressive  and  educating  nations. 


IV 


PREFACE. 


matter  of  curious  interest,  the  Letters  supposed  to  have 
passed  between  St.  Paul  and  Seneca  are  subjoined. 

In  addition  to  the  list  of  works  referred  to  in  the 
two  following  pages  as  having  been  consulted  in  the 
preparation  of  the  present  volume,  ample  use  has  been 
made  of  many  editions  and  monographs  on  the  subject 
in  Continental  libraries.  The  University  libraries  of 
Halle  and  Heidelberg,  which  are  especially  rich  in  the 
older  editions  of  Seneca,  were  consulted  when  making 
the  first  preparations  for  the  present  edition  of  the 
chief  essays  of  the  Homan  Moralist. 

The  editors,  in  this  revised  edition,  have  made  im¬ 
portant  changes  in  the  whole  body  of  the  annotations. 
The  references  are  more  numerous,  and  are  made  to 
correspond  with  the  latest  editions  of  Madvig,  Zumpt, 
and  other  grammarians.  The  student  is  thus  furnished 
with  the  newest  aids  in  interpreting  the  text.  Addi¬ 
tional  attention  has  been  given  to  the  grammatical  and 
rhetorical  figures,  which  are  abundant  in  Seneca’s  writ¬ 
ings,  and  which  make  him  an  attractive  and  profitable 
author  to  the  student  in  language.  The  editors  have 
received  important  suggestions  from  the  best  of  all 
judges — the  professors  in  our  colleges  and  universities 
— whose  kindly  and  valuable  aid  has  grown  out  of  their 
use  of  the  volume  in  the  class-room.  It  is  hoped  that 
the  work,  in,  its  present  form,  will  be  found  more 
worthy  of  the  generous  favor  whicli  it  received  at  tlie 
liands  of  practical  classical  instructors  and  of  students 
throughout  the  country. 

April,  1884. 


WORKS  USED  AND  REFERRED  TO  IN  PREPARING 
THE  PRESENT  EDITION. 


L.  Annaei  Senecae  Philosopki :  et  M,  Annaei  Senecae  Rhetoris :  quae 
extant  opera.  Two  vols.  folio.  Parisiis.  1607. 

Justi  Lipsii^  Manuduetionis  ad  Stoicam  Philosophiam^  libri  tres  ;  Physi- 
ologiae  Stoicorum,  libri  tres  :  folio.  Antverpiae.  1 605. 

T/ie  Workes  of  Lucius  Annaeus  Seneca,,  both  Morall  and  Naturall.  By 
Thos.  Lodge,  M.D.  One  vol.  folio.  London.  1614. 

L.  A.  Senecae  Opera.  Cum  Notis.  Elsevir’s  ed.  Two  vols.  8vo. 
Amstelodami.  1673. 

The  Epistles  of  Lucius  Annaeus  Seneca,  with  large  Annotations.  By  T. 

Morell,  D.D.  Two  vols.  folio.  London.  1786. 

Abrege  Analytique  de  laVie  et  des  Oeuvres  de  Seneque.  Par  A.  Vernier. 
One  vol.  8 VO.  Paris.  1812. 

De  L.  Annaei  Senecae  Vita  atque  Scriptis.  C.  G.Vaight  edidit.  One 
vol.  8vo.  Jenae.  1816. 

Seneca’s  Morals :  by  Way  of  Abstract.  One  vol.  8vo.  London.  1818. 
Specimen  Literarium  Inaugurale  exhibens  Senecae  Librum  de  Provi- 
dentia.  B.  A.  Nauta  edidit.  One  vol.  8vo.  Lugd.  Batav.  1825. 
L.  Annaei  Senecae  Opera,  (Lemaire’s  Bibliotheca  Classica  Latina^.  Ed¬ 
ited,  with  Notes,  etc.,  by  M.  N.  Bodillet.  Nine  vols.  8vo.  Parisiis. 
1827. 

History  of  Roman  Literature.  By  John  Dunlop.  Two  vols.  8vo. 
Phiiadelphia.  1827. 

L.  A.  Senecae  Opera.  C.  R.  Fickert  recensuit.  Three  vols.  8vo. 
Lipsiae.  1842-45. 

Dictionary  of  Greek  and  Roman  Antiquities.  By  W.  Smith,  LL.D. 

Revised  by  Prof.  Chas/ Anthon.  8vo.  New  York.  1843. 

Gallus.  By  W.  A.  Becker.  8vo.  London.  1849. 

L.  Annaei  Senecae  Opera,  quae  supersunt.  {Bibliotheca  Teubneriana.) 

Recognovit  F.  Haase.  Three  vols.  12mo.  Lipsiae.  1851-53. 
Philologus:  Zeitschrift  fur  das  klassische  Alterthmi.  Gottingen.  1852, 
1853. 

Saint  Paul  et  Seneque.  Recherches  sur  les  Rapports  du  Philosophe  avec 
VApotre.  Par  Amedee  Fleury.  Two  vols.  8vo.  Paris.  1853. 

On  the  Study  of  Words.  By  Abp.  Trench.  New  York.  1854  ;  15th 
ed,  1874. 


vi  ,  LIST  OF  WORKS  USED,  ETC. 

Athens  and  Attica.  By  CHRiSTOPHEii  Wordsworth.  One  vol.  8vo. 
London.  1854. 

History  of  Greece.  By  Connop  Thirlwall,  D.D.  8  vols.  8vo.  Lon¬ 
don.  1855. 

New  Brunswick  Review.  New  York.  1855. 

L.  Annaei  Senecae  Bisciplinae  Moralis  cum  Antoniniana  Contentio  et 
Comparatio.  A.  Doergens  edidit.  One  vol.  8yo.  Lipsiae.  1857. 
Biographical  History  of  Philosophy.  By  G.  H.  Lewes.  2  vols.  8vo. 
New  York.  1857. 

Zeitschrift  fur  wissenschaftliche  Theologie.  By  Rev,  A.  Hilgenfeld. 
Vol,  1.  8vo.  Jena.  1858. 

History  of  the  Romans  under  the  Empire.  By  Charles  Merivale. 

Seven  vols,  8vo.  New  York.  18G3-65. 

Saint  Paul  in  Rome.  By  Rev.  C.  M.  Butler,  D.D.  12mo.  Phila¬ 
delphia.  18G5. 

Essay  on  the  Ancient  Stoics,  in  Ethics  of  Aristotle.  By  Sir  A.  Grant, 
Two  vols.  8 VO.  London.  18GG. 

Westminster  Review.  New  York  (reprint).  18G7. 

History  of  Greece.  By  George  Grote.  Twelve  vols.  New  edition. 
London.  18G9. 

History  of  Rome.  By  Theodor  Mommsen.  Four  vols.  8vo.  New 
York.  18G9,  1870. 

S^neque  et  Saint  Paul.  Etude  sur  les  Rapports  supposes  entre  le  Pliilo- 
sophe  et  VApotre.  Par  C.  Aubertin.  One  vol.  8vo.  Paris.  18G9. 
Life  of  M.  T.  Cicero.  By  W.  Forsyth.  Two  vols.  New  York. 
1871. 

The  Stoics,  Epicureans,  and  Sceptics.  By  E.  Zeller.  Translated  from 
the  German  by  O.  T.  Reichel.  London.  1870. 

Socrates  and  the  Socratic  Schools.  By  the  same  author.  London. 
18G8. 

Historical  Essays.  Second  series.  By  E.  A.  Freeman.  8vo.  Lon¬ 
don.  1873. 

The  Epistle  of  St.  Paul  to  the  Philippians.  With  Dissertations,  etc. 

By  J.  B.  Lightfoot,  D.D.  8vo,  Loudon,  1873. 

Seekers  after  God.  By  W.  A.  Farrar,  D.D,  London.  1874. 

God  in  Human  Thought.  By  E.  H,  Gillett.  Two  vols.  8vo.  New 
York.  1874. 

.  History '  of  Philosophy.  By  F.  Ueberweg.  Two  vols,  8vo.  New 
York.  1874. 

The  Life  of  the  Greeks  and  Romans.  Described  from  Antique  Monu¬ 
ments.  By  E'.  Guhl  and  W.  Koner.  Translated  from  the  German, 
With  543  Woodcuts,  8vo.  New  York.  1875. 

Life  and  Epistles  of  St.  Paul.  By  Thomas  Lewin.  Two  vols.  folio. 
Second  edition,  London  and  New  York.  1875. 


CONTENTS. 

'  .  ’  '  ■  ’  ■  ■'  Page 

Introduction .  9 

Scripture  Paraulels .  40 

Ad  Lucilium  de  Providentia .  47 

Ad  Serenum  de  Tranquillitate  Animi .  67 

Ad  Paulinum  de  Brevitate  Vitae .  103 

Ad  Gallionem  de  Vita  Beata .  133 

Epistulae  Selectae .  167 

Epigrammata . . .  187 

Notes 


197 


ISast  of  Seneca.  From  the  Museum  at  Naples. 


4 


INTRODUCTION. 


LUCIUS  ANNAEUS  SENECA. 

I.  His  Relation  to  Ecclesiastical  History. 

Lucius  Annaeus  Seneca  was  the  last  great  represent¬ 
ative  of  the  Stoic  philosophy.  To  the  student  of  the 
philosophical  and  religious  relations  of  paganism  to 
Christianity,  his  writings  —  although  they  reflect  in  a 
measure  the  decadence  of  the  post-Augustan  period — 
are  of  more  importance  than  those  of  any  Greek  or 
Roman  author.  For  this  there  are  two  reasons :  First, 
because  his  philosophy  is  the  flnal  and  hopeless  exhibi¬ 
tion  of  the  inability  of  the  pagan  mind,  after  its  long  but 
futile  attempt,  both  to  solve  the  mysteries  of  our  being 
and  to  establish  safe  rules  of  conduct ;  and,  second, 
Seneca’s  moral  philosophy  embodies  the  unconscious  and 
mysterious  approach  of  pagan  wisdom  to  Christianity. 
It  was,  to  the  Roman  world  of  thought,  the  Baptist  pre¬ 
paring  the  way  for  a  system  mightier  than  any  it  had 
known.  Here,  too,  we  find  some  explanation  of  the  fact 
that  no  man  has  ever  received  from  his  fellows,  both  of 
his  owa  and  later  times,  a  more  diverse  judgment  than 
Seneca.  The  Roman  authors  who  describe  him,  taking 
Tacitus  and  Quintilian  as  examples,  were  generally  un¬ 
favorable,  though  Juvenal  dared  to  express  a  preference 
of  him  to  Nero,  the  Roman  emperor  : 

“  Libera  si  dentur  populo  sufFragia,  quis  tam 
Perditus,  ut  dubitet  Senecam  praeferre  Neroni.” 


10 


INTKODUCTION. 


Early  Christian  writers,  as  Jerome,  Lactantius,  Augus¬ 
tine,  and  Tertullian,  referAo  him  in  terms  of  high  com¬ 
mendation.  Augustine  speaks  of  his  being  conversant 
with  the  apostles,  and  Jerome  says  he  deserves  to  be 
ranked  among  the  saints.  Lactantius,  wbo  elsewhere 
calls  him  a  “  divine  pagan,”  thus  gives  him  a  rank  above 
all  the  Stoics :  “  Seneca,  who  was  the  sharpest  of  all 
the  Stoics — how  great  a  veneration  has  he  for  the  Al¬ 
mighty  !”  Indeed,  so  warm  was  the  admiration  of  him 
by  the  primitive  Church  that  the  tests  of  historical  criti¬ 
cism  were  forgotten,  and  he  was  regarded  as  practically 
a  Christian,  if  not  an  intimate  friend  and  an  admirer  of 
Paul  himself,  during  the  closing  period  of  his  life.  The 
Roman  Catholic  Church  has  always  held  him  in  high 
veneration,  and  at  the  Council  of  Trent  he  is  referred  to 
as  one  of  the  Fathers  of  the  Church.  The  French  critics, 
as  a  rule,  have  been  extremely  favorable  to  him.  Mon¬ 
taigne  prefers  him  to  Cicero,  and,  in  his  “Defense  of 
Seneca  and  Plutarch,”  thus  acknowledges  his  great  ob¬ 
ligation  to  the  two  :  “  The  familiarity  I  have  had  with 
these  two  authors,  and  the  assistance  they  have  lent  to 
my  age  and  to  my  book,  which  is  wholly  compiled  from 
what  I  have  borrowed  from  them,  oblige  me  to  stand  up 
for  their  honor.”  Diderot  reverses  his  previously  un¬ 
favorable  judgment,  and  passes  a  high  eulogy  upon  him. 
Rollin,  often  called  the  French  Quintilian,  commends  the 
variety  of  his  attainments,  the  depth  and  exactness  of 
his  philosophy,  the  wealth  of  his  imagination,  and  the 
general  purity  of  his  style.  The  most  recent  criticism, 
such  as  that  of  Zeller  in  Germany,  and  of  Martha  and 
Aubertin  in  France,  partakes  more  of  the  judicial  spirit, 
and  praises  and  blames  according  to  the  requirements  of 
justice.* 


*  Cf.  Westminster  iieyiew,  1867,  pp.  43,  44. 


INTRODUCTION. 


11 


II.  Personal  History. 

Marcus  Aurelius  Seneca,  the  father  of  Lucius  Annaeus, 
was  a  native  of  Spain,  and  belonged  to  the  strong  and 
rich  Roman  colony  of  Corduba  (Cordova),  which  was 
planted  on  the  banks  of  the  Baetis  (the  modern  Guadal¬ 
quivir)  by  Marcus  Marcellus  when  praetor  in  Spain.  It 
was  afterwards  elevated  to  the  dignity  of  Colonia  Patri¬ 
cia,  by  which  it  had  the  privilege  of  sending  senators  to 
Rome.  The  family  were  of  the  equestrian  order,  and 
possessed  considerable  wealth.  Helvia,  the  wife  of  Mar¬ 
cus  Aurelius  Seneca,  was  a  woman  of  many  endowments 
of  mind,  and  is  frequently  alluded  to  in  the  writings  of 
her  son.  Lucius  Annaeus  was  born  at  Corduba  about 
B.C.  7.  He  had  two  brothers,  the  older  being  Marcus 
Annaeus  Novatus  (afterward  changed  by  adoption  to 
Junius  Gallio),  and  the  younger,  Lucius  Annaeus  Mela, 
who  became  the  father  of  the  celebrated  poet  Lucan. 
Martial  thus  speaks  of  this  triple  character  of  the 
family  :  “  Et  docti  Senecae  tres  memoranda  domus.'^'* 
The  family  removed  to  Rome  when  Lucius  Annaeus  was 
about  two  years  of  age.  His  youth  was  passed  during 
the  reign  of  Tiberius,  and  he  enjoyed  all  the  literary  and 
social  advantages  which  the  station,  wealth,  and  person¬ 
al  care  of  his  father,  himself  an  orator  of  great  culture, 
could  afford.  He  made  a  visit  to  Egypt,  probably  of 
considerable  length,  while  his  uncle  was  prefect  of  that 
province.  To  this  fruitful  episode  in  Seneca’s  life  are 
due  the  frequent  references  in  his  writings  to  that  coun¬ 
try,  particularly  in  his  “Natural  Questions;”  and  very 
likely  he  was  the  real  author  of  Nero’s  organization  of 
an  expedition  for  the  discovery  of  the  sources  of  the 
Nile — the  first  attempt  in  history  to  solve  the  mysteries 
of  that  wonderful  river.  Livingstone,  Barth,  Baker, 


12 


INTRODUCTION. 


Rohlfs,  Speke,  and  Schweinfurth  have  only  followed  in 
Roman  footsteps. 

The  studies  of  Seneca  were  first  in  the  department  of 
eloquence  and  the  affiliated  sciences.  But  he  exhibited 
gradually  a  taste  for  philosophy,  from  which  the  per¬ 
suasions  of  his  own  wife  were  not  strong  enough  to 
alienate  him.  His  father,  likewise,  was  loath  to  see  his 
talented  son  devote  himself  to  a  class  of  studies  then  in 
decline,  and  not  promising  either  political  or  social  ad¬ 
vancement,  and  used  his  influence  to  have  his  son  be¬ 
come  an  advocate.  Seneca,  however,  seems  to  have  had 
a  large  measure  of  liberty,  for  he  enjoyed  the  instruc¬ 
tions  of  the  best  Roman  interpreters  of  the  Greek 
philosophy,  such  as  Papirius  Fabianus,  Attains,  Deme¬ 
trius,  and  Sotion.  Of  this  last  he  was  very  early  a  dis¬ 
ciple,  as  he'  says  in  one  of  his  epistles:  '"'‘Modo  apud  So- 
tionem  puer  sediP  So  great  was  the  influence  of  the 
Pythagorean  philosophy,  as  represented  by  Sotion,  upon 
him,  that  he  became  an  ardent  believer  in  the  trans¬ 
migration  of  souls,  and  proved  his  faith  for  a  time  by  be¬ 
coming  a  vegetarian,  as  the  eating  of  animal  food  could 
be  hardly  less  than  parricide  to  one  of  that  belief. 
The  first  public  labors  of  Seneca,  however,  were  ac¬ 
cording  to  the  wishes  of  his  father,  for  we  find  him  ex¬ 
ercising  the  functions  of  the  public  advocate,  acquiring 
a  just  celebrity  for  eloquence,  and  even  producing  his 
first  literary  fruit  in  this  department.  The  same  pater¬ 
nal  influence  is  also  perceptible  in  Seneca’s  becoming  a 
candidate  for  the  quaestorship  or  treasurership,  in  wdiich 
he  was  successful.  During  his  incumbency  of  this  office 
he  became  an  object  of  jealousy  on  the  part  of  the  Em¬ 
peror  Caligula^  who  grew  angry  with  him  on  the  sole 
ground  that  the  young  orator  pleaded  too  ably  one  day 
before  the  Senate  in  his  presence.  That  emperor  was 


INTRODUCTION. 


13 


only  prevented  from  putting  him  to  death  by  representa¬ 
tions  of  one  of  his  mistresses  that  it  was  hardly  worth 
while,  as  Seneca  was  a  hopeless  consumptive,  and  would 
soon  die  at  all  events.  Caligula  was  succeeded  by  his 
uncle,  Claudius,  and  the  latter  was  in  power  but  a  short 
time  before  his  wife,  the  corrupt  Valeria  Messalina,  who 
became  jealous  of  the  favor  shown  by  her  husband  to  his 
niece,  the  beautiful  Julia,  took  her  revenge  by  charging 
Seneca  with  an  illicit  intrigue  with  the  latter.  The  result 
was  that  Seneca  was  banished  to  the  island  of  Corsica, 
where  he  remained  eight  years. 

This  exile  was  a  transitional  period  in  Seneca’s  mind 
and  life.  He  had  been  married,  and  had  two  children. 
His  wife,  whose  name  is  unknown,  was  now  dead.  He 
married  a  second  time,  his  wife  being  Paulina.  One  of 
his  children,  a  boy,  died  twenty  days  before  his  father’s 
exile  to  Corsica.  The  other,  Novatilla,  was  committed  by 
her  father  to  the  care  of  his  mother,  Helvia,  with  these 
words:  “Fold  her  to  your  bosom;  she  has  lost  her 
mother  ;  she  seems  to  have  lost  her  father.  Care  for  her. 
Love  her  for  me.”  Once  in  Corsica,  Seneca  betook  him¬ 
self  closely  to  the  study  of  his  much -loved  philosophy. 
This  proved  to  be  a  productive  period  of  his  life.  Of  his 
lonely  home  he  had  nothing  good  to  say.  He  satirized 
every  thing  about  him,  and  thus  complained  that  Corsica 
was  poor  in  every  thing — but  exiles  : 

“Barbarous  land  which  rugged  rocks  surround, 

Whose  horrent  cliifs  with  idle  wastes  are  crowned, 

No  autumn  fruit,  no  tilth  the  summer  yields. 

Nor  olives  cheer  the  winter-silvered  fields  : 

Nor  joyous  spring  her  tender  foliage  lends. 

Nor  genial  herb  the  luckless  soil  befriends ; 

,  Nor  bread,  nor  sacred  fire,  nor  freshening  wave ; 

Naught  here — save  exile,  and  the  exile’s  grave  !”  (Epig.  II.) 

Polybius,  now  the  favorite  at  court,  lost  his  brother, 


14 


INTRODUCTION. 


and  Seneca  addressed  him  from  his  lonely  Corsica  an  epis¬ 
tle  on  “  Consolation,”  in  which  he  shrewdly  combined  the 
good  advice  of  bearing  patiently  what  we  can  not  escape, 
with  fulsome  adulation  of  Claudius  Caesar.  But  this  flat¬ 
tering  proved  quite  unnecessary,  for  either  it  was  never 
reported  to  the  emperor  by  Polybius,  or,  if  that  man  had 
the  temerity  to  do  it,  it  had  not  the  slightest  efiect  upon 
his  master  to  recall  the  philosopher  from  exile.  Now 
came  Messalina’s  day  of  retribution,  for,  having  formed 
an  illicit  alliance  with  the  young  and  handsome  Caius 
Silius,  she  died  a  wretched  fugitive,  and  Agrippina,  the 
daughter  of  Germanicus,  succeeded  her  as  empress.  This 
latter  made  use  of  her  influence  with  the  emperor  for  se¬ 
curing  the  return  of  Seneca  from  exile.  It  was  a  stroke 
of  policy  on  her  part  to  gain  popular  favor  for  herself  and 
her  son,Domitius  (Nero),  for  Seneca  was  a  great  favorite 
in  Rome,  and  no  more  adroit  management  could  have 
been  adopted  by  the  empress  for  the  accomplishment  of 
her  plans.  The  life  of  Seneca  henceforth  became  inti¬ 
mately  connected  with  Nero.  He  became  praetor,  and  the 
tutor  of  young  Nero.  Tacitus,  who  is  the  chief  authority 
for  what  we  know  of  the  life  of  both  Nero  and  his  precep¬ 
tor,  thus  states  the  purposes  of  Agrippina:  “Agrippina 
obtained  for  Seneca  a  revocation  from  exile,  and  with  it 
the  praetorship,  favors  which  she  supposed  would  be  well 
pleasing  to  the  public  on  account  of  his  signal  eloquence 
and  accomplishments;  besides  her  own  private  views, 
namely,  the  education  of  her  own  son,  Doraitius,  under 
such  a  master,  and  the  use  they  should  make  of  his  coun¬ 
sels,  both  to  obtain  the  empire  and  to  govern  it.”  Agrip¬ 
pina  secured  the  death  of  her  husband  by  poison,  and 
now  the  great  plan  of  her  life  was  successful — her  son, 
Nero,  became  Roman  emperor.  Farrar  says  of  her  ab¬ 
sorption  in  the  interests  of  her  son :  “  Whatever  there 


INTRODUCTION. 


15 


was  of  possible  affection  in  the  tigress  nature  of  Agrip¬ 
pina  was  now  absorbed  in  the  person  of  her  child.  For 
that  child,  from  its  cradle  to  her  own  death  by  his  means, 
she  toiled  and  sinned.  The  fury  of  her  own  ambition, 
inextricably  linked  with  the  uncontrollable  fierceness  of 
her  love  for  this  only  son,  henceforth  directed  every  ac¬ 
tion  of  her  life.  Destiny  had  made  her  the  sister  of  one 
emperor,  intrigue  elevated  her  into  the  wife  of  another. 
Her  own  crimes  made  her  the  mother  of  a  third.”* 

Claudius  was  no  sooner  dead  than  Seneca,  true  to  his 
temporizing  character,  made  him  the  object  of  his  keen 
satire,  and  at  the  same  time  bestowed  fulsome  eulogy  on 
the  young  Nero.  This  ruler  did,  indeed,  promise  well 
until  his  seventeenth  year,  but  soon  afterwards  he  man¬ 
ifested  a  restiveness  and  recklessness  that  gave  Seneca 
good  ground  for  fearing  that  his  imperial  disciple  might 
any  moment  become  his  oppressor.  Agrippina  prided 
herself  on  her  influence  over  her  son  ;  but  when  she  found 
that  he  bad  become  weary  of  his  wdfe,  Octavia,  and  formed 
a  secret  alliance  with  the  freed- worn  an  Acte,  her  indig¬ 
nation  became  violent  and  public,  for  she  was  shrew^d 
enough  to  see  that  this  change  in  Nero  was  fatal  to  her 
own  share  in  the  empire.  She  directed  her  hostility  par- 
-dicularly  at  Seneca  and  Burrhus,  the  joint  tutors  of  Nero, 
who,  according  to  Tacitus,  did  what  they  could  to  re¬ 
strain  the  vices  of  the  young  emperor,  and  saw  only  evil 
in  the  general  influence  of  his  wicked  mother.f  The 
mother,  out  of  revenge  for  her  son’s  throwing  off  her  in¬ 
fluence,  threatened  to  bring  forward  Britannicus,  the  son 
of  Claudius,  as  the  real  heir  to  the  throne.  Nero  now 
needed  to  act  promptly,  and  the  result  was,  as  there  is 
every  reason  to  believe,  that  the  speedy  death  of  Britan- 


*  Seekens  after  God,  p.  113. 
t  Auiiales,  xiii,  2,  etc. 


16 


INTRODUCTION. 


iiicus  was  caused  by  Nero,  who  was  then  only  in  tlie  first 
year  of  his  wretched  reign.  Imputations  have  been  cast 
by  various  writers — Merivale  among  the  rest — upon  both 
Burrhus  and  Seneca  as  probable  accomplices ;  but  there 
is  no  proof  that  such  was  the  fact.  This  much  is  certain, 
however,  that  Seneca  soon  afterwards  wrote  his  Essay  on 
Clemency,  dedicating  it  to  his  pupil,  Nero,  in  which  he 
extols  that  virtue  as  especially  beautiful  in  rulers,  and 
represents  Nero  as  a  remarkable  illustration  of  it. 

Agrippina  became  an  object  of  just  suspicion  on  the 
part  of  her  son,  Nero,  and  the  question  was  only  one  of 
time  which  should  succeed  in  ridding  the  worjd  of  the 
other.  A  report  was  brought  to  Nero  one  night  that 


Seueca,  as  tutor  of  Nero,  caricatured  as  a  butterfly  driying  a  dragon. 
From  the  Museum  at  Naples. 


Agrippina  was  plotting  for  his  overthrow  by  the  substi¬ 
tution  of  Plautus  on  the  throne.  The  charge  was  unjust, 
and  Agrippina  was  successful  in  having  her  accusers  con¬ 
demned,  and  herself  restored  to  the  favor  of  her  son.  The 
calm  lasted  four  years, the  end  of  which  marked  the  com¬ 
pletion  of  Nero’s  golden  age — “the  famous  Quinquen¬ 
nium” — during  which  Seneca  and  Burrhus  had  been  the 
actual  rulers,  and  the  afiairs  of  the  government  had  been 
administered  with  an  ability  and  success  that  command- 


INTKODUCTION. 


17 


ed  universal  admiration.  But  now  Nero  broke  loose 
from  all  restraint,  the  occasion  being  another  charge  that 
Agrippina  was  plotting  against  her  son.  Nero  promptly 
resolved  upon  his  mother’s  death,  and  his  plan  was  wor¬ 
thy  of  his  general  inhumanity ;  for  he  arranged  that  a 
pretended  public  reconciliation  between  his  mother  and 
himself  should  take  place  at  Baiae,  but  that  the  bolts  of 
the  vessel  on  which  she  should  return  to  her  retreat 
should  be  loosened,  and  his  victim  drowned.  She  es¬ 
caped  death  by  water,  but  shortly  after  fell  by  the 
blows  of  assassins.  Anicetus  was  the  first  to  strike  her, 
and  she  replied:  “Strike  my  womb,  for  it  bore  Nero.” 
Her  supreme  passion  for  her  son’s  ruling  continued, 
however,  to  the  last,  and  it  is  said  that  she  uttered  the 
words :  “  Occidat  dum  imperet  ” — Let  him  slay  me  if  he 
only  reign !  Recently  an  attempt  has  been  made  to 
justify  Nero  against  the  charge  of  parricide;  but  the 
deliberate  judgment  of  Tacitus,  Josephus,  Dion,  and  Sue¬ 
tonius  is  unequivocal  in  the  admission  of  his  guilt. 

What  part  did  Seneca  play  in  these  scenes  of  blood  ? 
On  this  subject  the  opinion  of  his  contemporaries  was 
divided.  First,  there  were  many  who  believed  that  he 
was  cognizant  of  the  attempt  of  Nero  to  drown  his 
mother.  The  weight  of  testimony  here  is  in  his  favor. 
Even  Dion  admits  that  “  there  was  no  proof  of  Seneca’s 
complicity  in  the  imputed  crime  of  Nero.”  Second,  it 
was  alleged  that  Seneca  was  an  abettor  in  the  murder 
of  Agrippina  at  the  hands  of  Anicetus  and  his  soldiers. 
This  is  not  proved,  and  the  probability  is  against  it. 
There  is  no  likelihood  that  he  attempted  to  dissuade 
Nero  from  the  crime,  for  he  was  pretty  sure  that  “if  the 
son  did  not  kill  the  mother,  the  mother  certainly  would 
kill  the  son.”  Tacitus  reports  that  Seneca  not  only 
charged  Nero  with  the  crime,  but  repudiated  all  share 


18 


INTEODUCTION. 


of  responsibility  for  himself.  But  no  amount  of  charity 
can  acquit  Seneca  of  writing  Nero’s  statement  to  the 
Roman  Senate  that  Agrippina  did  fall  by  her  own  hand. 
This  was  not  only  false,  but  amounted  to  a  direct  con¬ 
nivance  at  the  crime. 

It  was  now  Seneca’s  turn  to  become  involved  in  hope¬ 
less  difficulties.  Nero  having  become  weary  of  his  wife, 
Octavia,  determined  to  substitute  Poppaea  for  her.  It 
was  this  woman  who,  by  “  her  tears,  her  blandishments, 
and  even  her  sarcasms,”  was  the  real  author  of  Nero’s 
murder  of  his  mother,  for  the  great  aspiration  of  her  life 
was  to  become  empress,  and  she  knew  that  so  long  as 
Agrippina  lived  this  hope  could  never  be  realized.  In 
Nero’s  proposition  to  cast  aside  Octavia  and  take  Pop¬ 
paea  as  his  wife,  he  was  gently  opposed  by  Seneca.  The 
nobles,  long  jealous  of  the  philosopher,  now  found  it  easy 
to  alienate  the  emperor’s  mind  from  him.  Seneca  saw 
his  danger,  and  offered  to  surrender  his  just  wealth  to  his 
master,  and  withdrew  from  the  city,  pleading  his  delicate 
health  and  love  of  study.  Nero  gave  no  formal  consent, 
but  Seneca  lived  in  comparative  retirement.  The  enemies 
of  Seneca  reported  to  Nero  that  the  philosopher  was  a 
participant  in  Piso’s  conspiracy.  Seneca  succeeded  in 
disproving  all  share  in  the  plot,  but  again  begged  per¬ 
mission  to  retire,  for  Nero’s  burning  of  the  city  and  per¬ 
secution  of  the  Christians,  and  the  great  prevalence  of 
social  disorders  and.  crimes,  proved  that  the  old  teacher 
no  longer  had  the  slightest  influence  over  him.  Again 
his  request  was  denied.  The  conspiracy  of  Piso  now  as¬ 
sumed  threatening  proportions,  and  charges  were  brought 
against  Seneca  with  greater  plausibility.  Nero  resolved 
on  his  death.'  The  philosopher  was  found  at  his  villa, 
Nomentanum,  in  the  society  of  his  beloved  wife,  Paulina. 
He  heard  his  sentence  with  Stoic  calmness,  and  begged 


INTRODUCTION. 


19 


only  the  privilege  of  making  some  additions  to  his  will. 
This  was  refused.  For  the  particulars  of  his  death  we 
are  indebted  to  Tacitus.  The  philosopher  said  to  his 
friends  that,  since  he  was  disabled  from  requiting  their 
benefits,  he  bequeathed  them  that  which  alone  was  left 
him,  yet  something  more  glorious  and  amiable  than  all 
the  rest — the  pattern  of  his  life.  He  begged  them  not  to 
weep  for  him.  He  implored  his  wife  to  “  moderate  her 
sorrow,  to  beware  of  perpetuating  such  a  dismal  sorrow, 
but  to  bear  the  death  of  her  husband  by  contemplating 
his  life  spent  in  a  steady  course  of  virtue,  and  to  support 
his  loss  by  all  worthy  consolations.”  But  Paulina  would 
not  be  comforted,  and  attempted  to  put  an  end  to  her 
life.  Seneca,  seeing  her  deep  devotion,  gave  his  consent 
in  these  words:  “I  have  laid  before  thee  the  delights  and 
solaces  of  liviiTg;  thou  preferrest  the  renown  of  dying. 
I  shall  not  envy  thee  the  honor  of  the  example.  Let 
us  equally  share  the  fortitude  of  an  end  so  brave;  but 
greater  will  be  the  splendor  of  thy  particular  fall.”  At 
the  same  moment  the  two  had  the^ veins  of  their  arms 
opened.  Seneca’s  blood  flowed  very  slowly,  and  then  he 
ordered  the  veins  of  his  legs  to  be  opened.  His  suffer¬ 
ings  becoming  intense,  he  persuaded  his  wife  to  with¬ 
draw  to  an  adjoining  room,  lest  the  courage  of  each 
might  fail  by  witnessing  the  agony  of  the  other.  Nero 
ordered  that  Paulina’s  death  be  prevented,  and  so  her 
wounds  were  bound  up.  She  lived  but  a  few  years,  in 
feeble  health,  her  greatest  joy  being  the  memory  of  her 
husband.  But  no  clemency  was  visited  upon  Seneca. 
ITis  death  coming  too  slowly,  he  requested  his  friend  and 
physician,  Statius  Annaeus,  to  administer  poison  to  him. 
This  was  unnecessary,  for  it  failed  to  act  upon  his  thin 
body.  He  then  had  recourse  to  a  hot  bath,  but  this 
failing,  he  was  removed  to  a  vapor  bath,  or  sudatorium^ 


20 


INTEODUCTION. 


where  he  expired  amid  the  fumes.  His  secretaries  and 
slaves  were  about  him,  and  on  them  he  sprinkled  water, 
with  the  formula  of  a  libation:  “To  Jove  the  Liber¬ 
ator!”  His  body  was  burned  privately,  without  any 
funeral  ceremonies,  according  to  the  arrangements  he 
had  made  when  in  the  splendor  of  his  power  and  full 
enjoyment  of  his  great  wealth.  Some  writers,  as  Sicco 
Polentone,  who  have  imagined  that  Seneca  was  a  Chris¬ 
tian  at  heart,  represent  that  his  final  words  were  an  in¬ 
vocation  to  Christ,  and  that  he  baptized  himself  with 
the  water  of  the  bath.  But  this  is  only  a  beautiful 
fiction. 

III.  Estimate  op  Seneca’s  Life  and  Character. 

Seneca  can  not  be  judged  properly  without  a  careful 
regard  to  the  times  in  which  he  lived'  Every  great 
character  reflects  his  period.  This  reflection  need  not 
be  that  of  the  prevailing  sentiment.  Sometimes,  as  in 
the  case  of  great  reformers,  it  is  that  of  a  protest  against 
it.  Even  then,  however,  it  is  the  reflection  of  the  pro¬ 
test  which  the  better  spirit  of  the  age  bears  within  it¬ 
self.  Martin  Luther,  one  man  standing  out  in  antag¬ 
onism  to  his  contemporaries,  w'as  but  the  embodiment 
and  reflection  of  Europe’s  aspiration  of  reform  for  three 
centuries.  Seneca’s  chosen  field  was  that  of  a  moral 
teacher,  and  it  is  unreasonable  to  expect  that,  with  only 
a  pagan  culture,,  and  that  at  a  time  of  Rome’s  moral 
decadence,  he  should  exhibit  either  in  his  personal  life 
or  philosophy  such  an  example  as  we  could  fairly  ex¬ 
pect  from  the  simpler  and  purer  Roman  days,  to  say 
nothing  of  any  Christian  period.  No  age  has  surpassed 
that  of  the  Caesars,  particularly  the  later  ones,  in  splen¬ 
did  iniquity.  Horace  could  well  say  :  “  The  age  of  our 
fathers,  worse  than  that  of  our  grandsires,  has  produced 


INTRODUCTION. 


21 


us,  who  are  yet  baser,  and  who  are  doomed  to  give  birth 
to  a  still  more  degraded  offspring.”  Juvenal,  fifty  years 
later,  could  affirm:  “ Posterity^will  add  nothing  to  our 
immorality;  our  descendants  can  but  do  and  desire  the 
same  crimes  as  ourselves.”  Farrar,  in  referring  to  this 
testimony  of  contemporary  witnesses,  groups  the  evil 
characteristics  of  the  times  of  Seneca  under  five  heads : 
1.  The  violent  contrasts  in  social  condition;  2.  Atheism 
and  superstition;  3.  Excessive  luxury;  4.  Deep  sadness; 
and,  5.  Boundless  cruelty.  It  was  in  the  midst  of  such  a 
civilization  that  Seneca  lived  and  wrote,  and  the  wonder 
is  that  we  find  so  much  in  him  that  contrasts  favorably 
with  the  spirit  and  life  of  his  times.  His  genius,  posi¬ 
tion,  and  the  wishes  of  his  father,  first  brought  him  with¬ 
in  the  circle  of  the  political  maelstrom.  He  frequently 
strove,  later,  to  escape  all  contact  with  political  life,  and 
we  must  suppose  his  efforts  sincere.  We  fully  believe 
that  the  most  unfavorable  opinion  of  Seneca’s  complic¬ 
ity  with  Nero’s  guilt  can  apply  only  to  the  latest  period 
of  his  life,  when  he  found  himself  involved  in  the  meshes 
of  that  emperor’s  cruel  policy.  Lipsius  well  exclaims: 
“How  happy  would  Rome  have  been  if  Nero  had  con¬ 
tinued  to  follow  the  advice  of  Seneca  as  he  began  !  For 
what  could  be  more  commendable  than  the  earlier  years 
of  his  life,  while  under  the  direction  of  Seneca  ?”  That 
lie  was  a  willing  party  to  any  wrong  act,  even  his  most 
severe  critic,  Dion  Cassrus,  seems  hardly  to  believe;  but 
that  he  was  a  party  at  all  was  both  his  crime  and  misfor¬ 
tune,  and  from  the  two  there  is  no  possibility  of  acquit¬ 
ting  him.  The  most  that  can  be  done  is  to  give  him  the 
benefit  of  a  careful  weighing  of  the  palliating  circum¬ 
stances  which  surrounded  him.  Much  stress  has  been 
laid  upon  Seneca’s  enormous  wealth.  Tacitus  refers  to 
it,  but  declares  that  Seneca’s  wealth  had  no  effect  upon 

B 


22 


INTRODUCTION. 


his  temperate  and  even  austere  life :  “  Seneca,  with  a 
diet  exceedingly  simple,  supported  an  abstemious  life, 
satisfying  the  call  of  hunger  by  wild  fruit  from  the 
wood,  and  of  thirst  by  a  draught  from  the  brook.”  The 
philosopher  began  life  with  great  wealth,  and  after  his 
return  from  exile,  and  during  his  tutorship  of  Nero,  there 
came  vast  accessions  to  it  from  the  hands  of  that  ruler. 
He  had  treasures  in  other  lands,  as  Egyjit  and  Britain, 
and,  like  his  wealthy  contemporaries,  derived  immense 
revenue  from  money  at  interest.  Tacitus  nowhere  charges 
Seneca  with  guilt  in  the  acquisition  or  retention  of  it. 
Seneca,  even  requesting  Nero  to  take  from  him  his  for¬ 
tune,  used  the  following  noble  language :  “  Order  the 
auditors  of  thy  revenue  to  undertake  the  direction  of  my 
fortune,  and  annex  it  to  thine  own ;  nor  shall  I  by  this 
plunge  myself  into  indigence  and  poverty ;  but,  having 
only  surrendered  that  wondrous  opulence  which  exposes 
me  to  the  oftensive  blaze  of  so  much  splendor,  I  shall  re¬ 
deem  the  time  which  at  present  is  employed  in  the  care 
of  pompous  feasts  and  gardens,  and  apply  it  to  the  repose 
and  cultivation  of  my  mind.” 

The  misfortune  of  Seneca’s  career  was  his  tutorship 
of  Nero,  and  while  in  the  early  exercise  of  this  office  he 
used  every  means  to  guard  his  pupil  against  wickedness. 
Later,  however,  when  he  could  no  longer  control  him,  he 
seems  not  to  have  hesitated  to  approve  of  the  misdoings 
of  Nero.  He  was,  perhaps,  still  in  the  hope  that,  by  this 
means,  he  might  moderate  the  violence  of  the  youthful 
despot.  But  this  was  no  sufficient  ground  for  vacillation, 
or  for  practical  approval  of  wrong,  even  though  exile  or 
death  was  the  certain  penalty. 


INTEODUCTION. 


23 


IV.  Seneca’s  Philosophy. 

The  position  which  Seneca  occupies  as  a  philosopher 
is  not  that  of  an  originator  so  much  as  an  expounder. 
We  must  content  ourselves  here  with  merely  indicating 
his  relation,  as  a  philosopher,  to  his  times,  and  his  posi¬ 
tion  as  a  believer  in  the  Divine  Being,  and  in  the  moral 
laws  which  he  has  imposed  upon  the  universe.  While 
Seneca  adopted  the  general  principles  of  the  Stoic  sys¬ 
tem,  he  by  no  means  adhered  strictly  to  them,  but  seems 
to  have  reserved  to  himself  the  large  rights  of  the 
eclectic  thinker.  The  Roman  mind  was  not  at  all 
adapted  to  the  repose  and  equanimity  which  form  a 
fundamental  element  in  Stoicism.  It  was  only  after 
popular  liberty  was  lost,  when  the  government  became 
a  thing  that  lav  within  the  reach  of  the  most  ambitious 
and  unscrupulous,  and  morals  became  corrupt,  that  we 
find  any  tendency  to  fall  back  upon  the  resources  of  the 
mind  itself.  Says  M.  Aubertin  : 

“The  establishment  of  the  empire,  while  pacifying  elo¬ 
quence  and  suppressing  liberty,  did  not  enfeeble  philos¬ 
ophy.  It  gave  it,  on  the  other  hand,  a  higher  impor¬ 
tance,  a  less  uncertain  credit,  and  more  faithful  par¬ 
tisans.  In  the  general  abasement,  in  the  mental  waste 
and  the  incurable  ennui  where  so  soon  the  ardor  of  the 
noblest  souls  was  chilled,  philosophy,  the  sole  consoler 
amid  this  fearful  disgrace,  offered  to  the  conquered,  if 
not  an  impossible  hope,  at  least  a  refuge  and  an  indemni¬ 
fication.  Hence,  says  Horace,  the  faithful  interpreter  of 
the  delights  of  the  contemjmrary  mind,  it  became  ‘the 
work  of  all  the  days,  of  all  the  ages,  and  of  all  the  con¬ 
ditions.’  This  world,  grown  old  and  condemned,  there 
found  its  remedy  and  salvation.  Philosophy  gathered 
up  the  fragments  from  the  irreparable  shipwreck  of 
libertv.”* 

*  Seneqne  et  Saint  Paul,  p.  103. 


24 


INTRODUCTION. 


How  this  change  in  the  condition  of  Roman  political 
life  involved  a  new  employment  of  the  mind,  and  that 
in  the  direction  of  Stoicism — the  last  resort  in  sorrow 
for  every  unchristian  heart — has  been  very  strongly 
stated  by  a  writer  in  the  Westminster  Review: 

“In  tlie  age  of  Seneca  the  fashionable  Epicureanism  of 
the  earlier  empire  had  been  supplanted  by  the  philoso¬ 
phy  of  the  Porch.  Roman  independence  had  been  de¬ 
stroyed;  Caesar  sat  like  an  embodied  destiny  on  the 
throne  of  the  world,  the  terrestrial  correspondent  of  the 
•overruling  Fate,  the  great  cosrnical  unity,  the  general¬ 
ized  expression  for  the  irrevocable  order  and  irrevocable 
succession  of  individual  or  collective  causes,  in  which 
men  were  inserted  at  the  hour  of  their  birth.  A  philoso¬ 
phy  that  encouraged  political  action  could  not  but  give 
offense.  The  true  wisdom  was  to  conquer  the  troubles 
of  life  by  silent  endurance ;  the  true  compensation  for 
the  abandonment  of  power  or  place  was  to  be  sought  in 
retirement,  resignation,  the  inward  serenity  which  can 
neither  be  given  nor  taken  away.  The  Stoical  disin¬ 
clination  to  a  public  career,  or  any  form  of  political 
activity,  tended,  with  more  or  less  consciousness,  towards 
the  ideal  of  Apollonius  of  Tyana,  who  announced  that 
he  had  no  interest  in  the  republic,  but  lived  under  the 
rule  of  the  gods.  From  criminal  preoccupation,  from 
enervating  luxury,  from  the  satiety,  the  danger,  and 
corruption  of  the  times,  the  young,  the  ardent,  the  aspi¬ 
rant  to  a  higher  life  turned  away  to  seek  a  refuge  in  the 
internal  resources  of  the  Stoical  retreat,  a  predisposition 
typifying  the  ultimate  separation  of  the  temporal  and 
spiritual  power.  Stoicism  thus  became  a  religious  phi¬ 
losophy,  a  code  of  moral  precepts,  of  prudential  regula¬ 
tions  accommodated  to  the  various  exig:encies  of  life. 
Of  this  school  of  practical  wisdom  and  pious  speculation 
Seneca  was  for  a  considerable  time  the  distinguished 
chief.”* 

Between  Cicero  and  Seneca  this  Stoic  philosophy  took 


*  Vol.  for  1867,  pp.  71,  72. 


INTKODUCTION. 


25 


\ 

root  ill  Rome.  The  period  was  resplendent  with  a  group 
of  minds  that  seem  to  have  derived  all  their  inspiration 
from  Greece,  and  yet  to  have  comprehended  well  the 
moral  needs  of  their  own  day.  Says  M.  Aubertin  : 

“Leaving  Cicero,  and  coming  right  to  Seneca  and  his 
neo-Stoical  contemporaries,  what  do  we  find?  A  philos¬ 
ophy  abundant  in  new  perspectives  and  of  vast  conse¬ 
quences.  The  basis  of  doctrine  has  undergone  a  trans¬ 
formation.  The  spiritualism  of  these  philosophers  has 
a  character  of  mystical  exaltation,  impassioned  raving, 
and  religious  enthusiasm  unknown  to  the  author  of  the 
Tusculan  orations.  Whence  comes  this  new  character, 
marked  by  such  visible  characteristics  ?  It  is  the  nat¬ 
ural  result  of  the  labor  of  these  eighty-six  years  that 
separate  Cicero  and  Seneca.  .  .  .  The  latter  has  left  us  a 
lively  picture  of  these  fruitful  years  ;  he  is  full  of  the 
reading  of  his  masters ;  he  hears  their  voices,  cites  frag¬ 
ments  of  their  discourses,  and  reproduces  their  opinions 
with  that  vividness  of  imagination  which  is  the  domi- 
nant  faculty  of  his  remarkable  mind.”* 

These  philosophers  did  not  neglect  metaphysical  study, 
but  their  taste  lay  chiefly  in  the  department  of  morals. 
Seneca,  while  he  was  a  careful  gleaner  from  his  immedi¬ 
ate  Roman  predecessors,  and  always  cites  them  in  sup¬ 
port  of  his  opinions,  went  far  beyond  any  of  them  in  the 
development  of  his  system. 

*  Seneca’s  view  of  Deity  is  essentially  that  found  in  the 
Stoic  system  in  its  best  state.  There  is  a  supreme  God, 
who  is  the  soul  of  the  world.  He  has  operated  on  mat¬ 
ter  as  organizer,  not  as  creator.  Matter  is  eternal,  but 
disordered,  and  only  waited  for  the  divine  soul  to  bring 
it  into  harmony.  Matter  has  no  soul ;  it  is  simply  inert 
and  passive,  and  subject  to  the  power  of  God.  God  is 
the  divine  reason,  placed  in  the  world.  While  God  has 

*  Ifeneqne  et  Saint  Paul,  pp.  101,  102. 


26 


INTRODUCTION. 


made  the  world  out  of  pre-existent  matter,  he  has  not 
been  able  to  change  its  essence.  This  accounts  for  the 
reign  of  evil,  for  matter  has  essentially  an  evil  principle. 
God  has  supreme  control  over  human  affairs.  He  de¬ 
scends  to  men,  and  dwells  with  them.  Our  condition 
is  fully  known  to  him.  It  is  to  him  that  we  live,  and 
to  him  that  we  must  approve  ourselves.  We  must  so 
live  that  God  will  see  only  good  in  us,  for  he  sees  just 
what  we  are.  “  There  is  no  need,”  says  Seneca  to  Lu- 
cilius,  “  to  lift  your  hands  to  heaven,  or  to  pray  the 
aedile  to  admit  you  to  the  ear  of  an  image,  that  so  your 
prayers  may  be  heard  the  better.  God  is  near  thee  ;  he 
is  with  thee.  ...  A  holy  spirit  resides  within  us,  the  ob¬ 
server  of  good  and  evil,  and  our  constant  guardian.  As 
we  treat  him,  he  treats  us.  At  least  no  man  is  without 
God.  Can  any  one  ever  rise  above  the  power  of  for¬ 
tune  without  his  assistance?  It  is  he  that  inspires  us 
with  thoughts  upright,  just,  and  pure.  We  do  not,  in¬ 
deed,  pretend  to  say  what  god ;  but  that  a  god  dwells 
in  the  breast  of  every  good  man  is  certain.”*  This  uni¬ 
verse  could  only  be  restrained  from  ruin  by  the  presence 
of  God.  The  least  events  and  the  lowest  lives  are 
known  to  him.  We  must,  therefore,  submit  fully  to 
God.  Our  condition  may  be  wretched,  but  this  is 
sometimes  a  necessity  for  our  discipline.  God  could 
relieve  us  from  misery,  but  then  that  would  not  always 
be  best.  We  are  in  a  condition  which  requires  train¬ 
ing  and  the  highest  culture. 

*  Seneca,  in  his  entire  ethical  system,  went  far  beyond 
his  times.  “He  seems,”  says  Gillett,  “  as  if  by  a  flash  of 
intuition,  to  apprehend  the  moral  relations  of  men,  and 
the  proper  aims  and  duties  of  human  life.  He  sets  him¬ 
self  up  as  a  teacher — not  an  example,  for  he  confesses  his 


*  Epistula  xli. 


INTRODUCTION, 


27 


imperfections  and  deficiencies — and  his  words  are  meni' 
orable  alike  for  their  terseness  and  their  worth._  That 
he  stood  aloof  from  Christianity — that  the  vigor  of  his 
years  had  passed  before  he  could  have  had  any  knowl¬ 
edge  of  Christianity  —  adds  to  our  surprise.”  *  The 
ethics  of  Seneca  are  based  upon  God’s  identification  with 
the  universe  and  his  presence  in  human  life.  Here  be- 
lon2:s  the  brotherhood  of  man.  We  are  not  isolated  in 
any  sense,  for  the  whole  family  of  humanity  is  united  by 
the  bonds  of  a  common  origin.  Nature  made  us  rela¬ 
tives  when  it  be^at  us  from  the  same  materials  and  for 
the  same  destinies.  It  planted  in  us  a  mutual  love,  and 
fitted  us  for  a  social  life.  What  is  a  Roman  knight,  or 
freedman,  or  slave  ?  These  are  but  names  that  spring 
from  ambition  or  injury.  Our  country  is  the  world,  and 
our  guardians  are  the  gods.  Slavery,  therefore,  is  to  be 
condemned  as  a  crime  against  God.  “  Seneca,”  says 
Lecky,  “  has  filled  pages  with  exhortations  to  masters 
to  remember  that  the  accident  of  position  in  no  degree 
afiects  the  real  dignity  of  men  ;  that  the  slave  maj^  be 
free  by  virtue,  while  the  master  may  be  a  slave  by  vice  ; 
and  that  it  is  the  duty  of  a  good  man  to  abstain  not  only 
from  all  cruelty,  but  even  from  all  feeling  of  contempt 
towards  his  slaves.”f  All  exhibitions  of  a  man’s  rights 
to  make  another  suffer  are  cruel  in  the  extreme.  Gla¬ 
diatorial  contests,  therefore,  have  no  possible  apology. 
Such  amusements  are  “brutalizing,  savage,  and  detest¬ 
able.”  Man  must  imitate  the  natural  world,  where  each 
has  his  right  and  his  own  part  to  play.  In  nature  we 
find  apparent  disturbances  and  irregularities.  Earth¬ 
quakes,  volcanic  eruptions,  and  violent  storms  would 
seem  to  be  abnormal.  But  this  is  not  the  fact.  They  are 

*  God  in  Human  Thought,  vol,  i,  p.  253. 

t  History  of  European  Morals,  vol.  i,  p.  324. 


28 


INTRODUCTION. 


only  the  evidences  of  the  reign  of  cosmic  law.  To  show 
this  order  in  nature  was  the  design  of  the  “Natural 
Questions”  of  Seneca,  perhaps  more  than  any  other 
work  of  antiquity  the  direct  forerunner  of  Humboldt’s 
“  Cosmos.”  That  work  of  Seneca  was  valued  by  Mon¬ 
taigne  more  highly  than  any  other,  because  of  its  having 
been  written  in  old  age,  after  the  temptations  to  the  en¬ 
joyment  of  popular  and  imperial  favor  had  ceased.  We 
close  our  reference  to  Seneca’s  philosophy  by  citing  the 
general  view,  as  just  as  it  is  forcible,  of  a  writer,  already 
referred  to,  in  the  Westminster  Review  : 

“Free  from  the  superstitions  of  the  populace,  exalted 
above  the  illusions  of  Stoical  orthodoxy,  replacing  the 
multiplicity  of  gods  by  the  unity  of  the  divine  nature, 
and  substituting  for  external  worship  the  spiritual 
adoration  which  lies  in  the  knowledge  of  God  and  the 
humble  imitation  of  his  perfection,  Seneca,  as  a  com¬ 
petent  authority  observes,  holds  a  foremost  rank  among 
those  who  represent  in  its  highest  purity  the  elevated 
moral  conception  which  classical  antiquity  attained. 
True  to  the  old  Stoical  traditions,  he  yet  gave  pre¬ 
dominance  to  the  religious  point  of  view,  introducing 
into  his  teachino;  a  difference  in  des^ree  that  was  almost 
a  difference  in  mind.  Hence  his  theology  became  more 
human — his  deity  more  personal.  Contemporaneously 
with  the  missionaries  of  a  new  faith,  he  insisted  on  the 
necessity  of  obedience  to  the  will  of  God,  of  a  life  in 
harmony  with  the  divine  nature,  of  the  presence  of  God 
in  the  soul  of  man,  of  the  slave  as  well  as  the  free,  of 
self-surrender  to  the  Providence  that  orders  the  world, 
as  the  ground  of  all  internal  freedom  and  peace.  The 
practical  character  of  his  morality,  his  conviction  of 
human  weakness  and  imperfection,  his  lessons  of  mercy 
and  forgiveness,  his  doctrine  of  forbearance  and  indul¬ 
gence  to  human  infirmity,  his  ideal  of  the  married  life, 
his  estimate  of  true  friendship,  his  spirit  of  universal  love 
and  divine  impartiality,  at  once  attest  the  nobleness  of 
his  moral  aspirations,  and  illustrate  the  mutual  approach 


INTKODUOTION. 


29 

of  the  wisdom  of  the  Greek  mid  Roman  world,  and  of 
the  enlarging  piety  of  a  less  exclusive  Palestine.  The 
work  that  Seneca  endeavored  to  do,  however  imperfect¬ 
ly,  must  always  have  a  profound  interest  for  the  student 
of  that  great  religious  revolution  which  formed  a  crisis 
in  the  history  of  the  human  race,  not  only  on  general 
grounds,  but  because,  to  borrow  the  remarkable  expres¬ 
sion  quoted  by  M.  Martha  from  the  eloquent  Tertul- 
lian,  it  was  ^  testimo7iiwn  animae  naturaliter  Christia- 
nae? 

Y.  WoKKS  OF  Seneca. 

Seneca’s  writings  have  not  all  been  preserved.  We 
have  the  greater  jiart,  however,  and  from  those  still  ex¬ 
tant  we  can  well  appreciate  Quintilian’s  statement  con¬ 
cerning  him,  “  that  he  treated  on  almost  every  subject  of 
study;  for  both  orations  of  his,  and  poems,  and  epistles, 
and  dialogues,  are  extant.”f  It  is  not  probable  that  any 
leading  work  of  Seneca  has  been  lost,  for  being  a  great 
favorite  in  the  early  Church,  the  interest  in  his  writ¬ 
ings  served  to  preserve  them,  while  those  of  less-favored 
Roman  authors  w^ere  neither  copied  nor  cared  for.  The 
list  of  his  works,  as  given  by  George  Long  in  Smith’s 
“Dictionary  of  Greek  and  Roman  Biography  and  My¬ 
thology,”  forms  the  basis  of  our  catalogue. 

1.  De  Ira.  In  three  books.  This  was  addressed  to  No- 
vatus,  and  was  one  of  Seneca’s  earliest  works.  2.  De  Con¬ 
solations  ad  Ilslmani  Matrem  Liber.  Written  to  his 
mother  during  his  banishment  to  Corsica.  One  of  his 
purest  and  best  works.  3.  De  Consolations  ad  Polyhium 
Liber.  Composed  in  the  third  year  of  Seneca’s  Corsican 
exile.  Diderot  and  others  maintain  that  it  is  not  by  Sen¬ 
eca,  because  it  is  unworthv  of  him.  But  the  external 
evidences  are  too  stroim.  4.  De  Consolations  ad  3Iarci- 

O 

am  Liber.  Written  after  Seneca’s  return  from  exile,  and 


*  Vol.  for  1 8G7,  p.  84. 


t  Inst.  Orat. ,  x,  1 ,  §  1  20. 


30 


INTKODUCTION. 


designed  to  console  Marcia  for  the  loss  of  her  son.  Mar¬ 
cia  was  the  daughter  of  A.  Cremutins  Cordus.  5.  De 
Providentia.  “  A  Golden  Book,”  says  Lipsius.  Seneca’s 
design  here  is  to  prove  that  Providence  has  a  power 
over  all  things,  and  that  God  is  always  present  with 
ns.  6.  De  Tranqidllitate  Animi.  Written  shortly  after 
Seneca’s  return  from  banishment,  when  he  was  prae¬ 
tor,  and  had  become  Nero’s  tutor.  The  object  is  to  dis¬ 
cover  the  true  means  by  which  peace  of  mind  can  be  at¬ 
tained.  The  author,  surrounded  by  all  the  splendors  of 
the  court,  writes  as  one  very  ill  at  ease.  7.  De  Constantia 
Sapmitis,  seu  quod  in  Sapientejii  non  cadit  Injuria.  Ad¬ 
dressed  to  Serenus,  and  founded  on  the  Stoic  doctrine  of 
the  wise  man’s  impassiveness.  Lipsius  says  of  it :  “This 
book  betokens  a  great  mind,  as  great  a  wit,  and  much 
eloquence ;  in  a  word,  it  is  one  of  his  best.”  8.  De  de¬ 
mentia  ad  Neronem  Caesarem  Libri  duo.  ^  There  is  too 
much  flattery  in  this  work.  It  is  here  that  Seneca  relates 
the  anecdote  of  Nero’s  unwillingness  to  sign  a  sentence 
of  execution,  and  his  exclamation:  “I  would  I  could 
neither  read  nor  write  !”  The  second  book  is  incomplete. 
9.  De  Bremtate  Vitae.^  Written  to  Paulin  us,  and  recom¬ 
mending  the  proper  employment  of  time,  and  the  best 
means  to  derive  wisdom  from  our  life.  10.  De  Pita  Be- 
ata.  Addressed  to  his  brother,  L.  Junius  Gallio,  and 
pleading  that  there  is  no  happiness  without  virtue,  though 
health  and  riches  have  their  value.  The  conclusion  is 
lost.  11.  De  Otio.  Sometimes  joined  to  De  Pita  Beata. 
12.  De  Beneficiis.  In  seven  books,  addressed  to  Aebucius 
Liberalis,  and  explaining  the  way  of  conferring  a  favor, 
and  the  duties  of  the  giver  and  recipient.  \2>.  Ephtidae 
Alorales.  One  hundred  and  twenty-four,  written  to  Lucil- 
ius,  and  consisting  of  moral  maxims.  Composed  for  the 
most  part  in  the  latter  period  of  Seneca’s  life,  and  com- 


INTRODUCTION. 


31 


prising  his  moral  reflections  after  losing  imperial  favor. 
14.  Apocolocyntosis.  A  satire  on  the  deceased  Emperor 
Claudius.  It  is  a  play  on  the  word  pumpkin,  and  means 
pumpkiuification,  or  the  reception  of  Claudius  among  the 
pumpkins.  15.  Quaestiones  Naturales.  In  seven  books, 
addressed  to  Lucilius :  the  work  deals  with  questions  of 
natural  history,  and  comprises  copious  extracts  from  va¬ 
rious  Greek  and  Roman  authors.  16.  Tmgoediae.  Ten 
tragedies  are  attributed  to  Seneca  by  various  Latin  writ¬ 
ers,  Quintilian  among  the  number.  (Inst.  Orat.,  ix,  2,  §  8.) 
They  bear  the  following  titles :  Hercules  Fwrens^  Thyestes^ 
Thehais  or  Phoenissae^  Hippolytus  or  Phaedra^  Oedipus^ 
Troades  or  Hecuba^  Medea^  Agamemnon^  Hermles  Oetaeus^ 
and  Octavia.  As  the  titles  indicate,  the  subjects  are 
mostly  from  the  Greek  mythology.  They  are  written  in 
iambic  senarii,  interspersed  with  choral  parts,  in  anapaes¬ 
tic  and  other  metres.  None  of  these  tragedies  are  adapt¬ 
ed  to  the  stage,  and  were  never  intended  for  that  purpose. 
They  were  designed  for  reading  or  recitation,  after  the 
fashion  of  the  Roman  rhetorical  training.  Moral  senti¬ 
ments  abound  in  them  all,  as  with  every  thing  that  Seneca 
wrote. 

VI.  Editions. 

The  Editio  Princeps  of  Seneca  was  issued  in  Naples, 
1475,  in  folio.  The  edition  of  J.  F.  Gronovius  (Leyden), 
1649-58,  is  in  4  vols.  12mo;  that  of  Ruhkopf  (Leipzig), 
1797-1811,5  vols.  8vo;  and  that  of  C.  R.  Fickert  (Leip¬ 
zig),  1842-45,  3  vols.  8vo.  The  French  writers,  as  stated 
above,  probably  through  the  impulse  of  Montaigne,  have 
bestowed  great  attention  on  Seneca,  both  in  textual  crit¬ 
icism  and  translation.  Lagrange’s  version  is  the  best. 
In  England,  the  first  edition  of  The  Workes  of  Ij.  An¬ 
naeus  Seneca^  both  Morall  and  Haturall^  translated  by 
Thomas  Lodge,  appeared  in  London  in  1614,  with  a  Latin 


32 


INTRODUO'nON. 


dedication  to  Chancellor  Ellesmere.  An  English  trans¬ 
lation  of  the  Tragedies,  by  several  hands,  appeared  as 
early  as  1581.  Bahr,  in  his  GescJiichte  der  romischen  Li¬ 
terature  vol.  i,  gives  a  copious  bibliography  relating  to 
Seneca. 

VII.  Relations  of  Seneca  and  St.  Paul. 

To  the  student  of  sacred  and  ecclesiastical  history  the 
question  of  the  relations  of  Seneca  and  St.  Paul  is  one  of 
the  most  interesting  connected  with  the  boundary  line 
between  Christianity  and  the  pagan  philosophy.  The  co¬ 
incidences  between  the  wTitino:s  of  the  two  are  amons:  the 
unsolved  problems  of  literary  history.  Every  wu'iter  on 
the  subject  concedes  them  to  be  striking,  and  those  who 
do  not  admit  an  acquaintance  have  difficulty  in  explain¬ 
ing  the  parallelism.  The  most  common  solution  of  the 
latter  class  is  thus  expressed,  by  the  writer  already  refer¬ 
red  to,  in  the  Westminster  Review  : 

“This  resemblance  is  only  one  among  many  instances  of 
the  drift  of  the  common  consciousness,  under  the  same  im¬ 
pelling  winds  of  motion,  to  a  similar  or  analogous  intel¬ 
lectual  and  moral  deliverance.  The  common  thought,  the 
common  feeling,  the  common  misery,  the  common  aspira¬ 
tion— in  a  word,  the  common  development  of  the  human 
mind,  had  manifestations  unlike,  yet  not  all  unlike,  in 
Greece  and  in  Judaea;  and  Saul  of  Tarsus  and  Seneca  of 
Rome,  each  in  his  own  way,  acknowledged  the  smiting 
presence  of  the  new  light  that  was  dawning  on  a  half-ex¬ 
pectant  world.” 

Of  the  co-operative  character  of  the  writings  of  St. 
Paul  and  Seneca  as  great  moral  teachers,  Merivale  thus 
speaks : 

“  Far  different  as  was  their  social  standing-point,  far  dif¬ 
ferent  as  were  the  foundations  and  the  presumed  sanctions 


INTRODUCTION. 


33 


of  their  teaching  respectively,  Seneca  and  St.  Paul  were 
both  moral  reformers ;  both,  be  it  said  with  reverence, 
were  fellow-workers  in  the  cause  of  humanity,  though  the 
Christian  could  look  beyond  the  proximate  aims  of  mo¬ 
rality,  and  prepare  men  for  a  final  development  on  which 
the  Stoic  could  not  venture  to  gaze.  Hence  there  is  so 
much  in  their  principles,  so  much  in  their  language,  that 
agrees  together ;  so  that  the  one  has  been  thought,  though 
it  must  be  owned  without  adequate  reason,  to  have  bor¬ 
rowed  directly  from  the  other.  But  the  philosopher,  be 
it  remembered,  discoursed  to  a  large  and  not  inattentive 
audience;  and  surely  the  soil  was  not  all  unfruitful  on 
which  his  seed  was  scattered,  when  he  proclaimed  that 
God  dwells  not  in  temples  of  wood  or  stone,  nor  wants 
the  ministrations  of  human  hands;  that  he  has  no  delight 
in  the  blood  of  victims;  that  he  is  near  to  all  his  creat¬ 
ures  ;  that  his  spirit  resides  in  men’s  hearts ;  that  all  men 
are  truly  his  oftspring ;  that  we  are  members  of  one  body, 
which  is  God  or  nature ;  that  men  must  believe  in  God 
before  they  can  approach  him;  that  the  true  service  of 
God  is  to  be  like  unto  him  ;  that  all  men  have  sinned,  and 
none  performed  all  the  works  of  the  law ;  that  God  is  no 
respecter  of  persons,  ranks,  or  conditions;  but  all,  bar¬ 
barian  and  Roman,  bond  and  free,  are  alike  under  his  all- 
seeing  providence.”* 

The  early  faith  of  the  Church  attached  much  impor¬ 
tance  to  the  acquaintance  and  friendship  of  these  two 
men — the  one  representing  all  that  was  vital,  aggressive, 
and  hopeful  in  primitive  Christianity,  and  the  other  all 
that  was  truthful  and  worthy  in  the  latest  Stoic  philoso¬ 
phy.  We  can,  therefore,  look  upon  the  production  and 
wide  circulation  of  a  spurious  correspondence  of  fourteen 
letters  between  them  as  only  natural  results  of  a  fond  de¬ 
sire  to  see  in  the  pagan  mind  a  wdlling  acquiescence  in  re¬ 
vealed  truth,  on  the  first  propagation  of  it,  in  the  metrop¬ 
olis  of  the  world.  “From  the  age  of  St.  Jerome,”  says 
Lightfoot,  “Seneca  was  commonly  regarded  as  standing 


*  History  of  the  Romans  under  the  Empire,  vol.  v,  pp.  457,  458. 


INTRODUCTION. 


on  the  very  tlireshold  of  the  Christian  Chnrcii,  even  if  he 
had  not  actually  passed  within  its  portals.  In  one  eccle¬ 
siastical  council  at  least,  held  at  Tours  in  the  year  567, 
his  authority  is  quoted  with  a  deference  generally  ac¬ 
corded  only  to  fathers  of  tlie  Church.  And  even  to  the 
present  day,  in  tlie  marionette  plays  of  his  native  Spain, 
St.  Seneca  takes  his  place  by  the  side  of  St.  Peter  and  St. 
Paul  in  the  representations  of  our  Lord’s  passion.”*  Je¬ 
rome  took  note  of  this  correspondence  in  the  following 
language :  “  Quem  non  ponerem  in  catalogo  sanctorum, 
nisi  me  illae  epistulae  provocarent  quae  leguntur  a  pluri- 
mis,  Pauli  ad  Senecam  et  Senecae  ad  Paulum.”f  This,  of 
course,  decides  nothing  as  to  the  authenticity  of  the  let¬ 
ters;  but  the  credulous  spirit  of  the  whole  mediaeval 
Church  was  only  too  ready  to  adopt  this  revered  father’s 
language  as  a  strong  endorsement  of  the  correspondence. 
The  internal  character  of  the  letters  is  thoroughly  de¬ 
cisive  of  their  spuriousness.  The  barrenness  of  thought, 
the  impurity  of  the  style,  the  errors  in  matters  of  fact,  and 
especially  the  frequent  violations  of  historical  and  chron¬ 
ological  accuracy,  prove  them  unworthy  the  place  they 
have  occupied  in  ecclesiastical  literature.  (These  letters 
are  given  at  the  end  of  the  present  volume.)  Of  all  writ¬ 
ers,  the  French  have  manifested  most  confidence  in  the 
authenticity  of  the  correspondence ;  and  in  cases  where 
they  have  not  gone  to  this  extreme,  they  have  discussed 
the  question  with  ah  animation  and  wealth  of  research 
that  have  attracted  the  admiration  of  the  learned  world. 
The  most  complete  treatise  on  the  subject  is  that  of 
Fleurv.  This  author,  while  claiming  that  Paul  and  Sen- 
eca  were  on  intimate  relations,  concedes  the  improbabil¬ 
ity  of  the  correspondence,  on  the  ground  of  its  being  “  a 
composition  of  very  inferior  grade,  a  sort  of  school-boy 


*  Epistle  to  the  Philippians,  pp.  296,  297,  3d  ed.  f  Vir.  Illust.,  12. 


INTRODUCTION. 


35 


exercise,  abundant  in  rhetorical  excesses,  couched  in  very- 
poor  language,  now  containing  borrowed  expressions  from 
Tacitus,  and  now  others  from  the  existing  version  of 
Paul’s  epistles.”*  Fleury  enriches  his  treatise  by  a  de¬ 
scription  of  the  whole  literature  of  this  special  subject,f 
and  by  his  excellent  bibliography  of  the  manuscripts  and 
editions  containing  the  alleged  correspondence  between 
St.  Paul  and  Seneca. J  The  most  recent  French  writer  on 
this  subject  is  Charles  Aubertin,  who  enters  into  the  full 
criticism  of  the  contemporary  philosophy,  and  concludes 
not  only  that  the  correspondence  is  without  any  claim  to 
authenticity,  but  that  Seneca’s  writings  no  more  prove 
him  to  have  been  a  Christian  than  do  the  works  of  Plato, 
Cicero,  and  other  Greek  and  Roman  philosophical  and 
moral  writers  prove  them  to  have  been  followers  of  Christ. 
Lightfoot  points  out  the  untenability  of  Seneca’s  parallel¬ 
ism  with  St.  Paul  on  the  ground  of  the  former’s  frequent 
priority  to  Paul’s  writings,  the  existence  of  the  same  par¬ 
allels  in  previous  authors,  the  many  fallacious  coincidences, 
and  the  depth  of  the  opposition  of  his  tenets  to  those  of 
Pauls  However, Lisfhtfoot  thus  concludes  that  there  are 
many  coincidences  which  can  not  be  explained  on  these 
grounds : 

“But  after  all  allowance  made  for  the  considerations 
just  urged,  some  facts  remain  which  still  require  expla¬ 
nation.  It  appears  that  the  Christian  parallels  in  Seneca’s 
writings  become  more  frequent  as  he  advances  in  life. 
It  is  not  less  true  that  they  are  much  more  striking  and 
more  numerous  than  in  the  other  great  Stoics  of  the  Ro¬ 
man  period,  Epictetus  and  M.  Aurelius ;  for  though  in 
character  these  later  writers  approached  much  nearer  to 
the  Christian  ideal  than  the  minister  of  Nero,  though 


*  Saint  Paul  et  Seneque,  vol.  ii,  pp.  281,  282. 
t  Vol.  i,  pp.  2-9.  t  Vol.  ii,  pp.  283-297. 

§  Epistle  to  the  Philippians,  Sd  edition,  pp.  289-29G.  London,  1873. 


86 


INTliODUCTION. 


tlieir  fundamental  doctrines  are  as  little  inconsistent  with 
Christian  theology  and  ethics  as  his,  yet  the  closer  resem¬ 
blances  of  sentiment  and  expression,  which  alone  would 
suggest  any  direct  obligations  to  Christianity,  are,  I  be¬ 
lieve,  decidedly  more  frequent  in  Seneca.  Lastly:  after 
all  deductions  made,  a  class  of  coincidences  still  remains, 
of  which  the  expression  ‘spend  and  be  spent’  may  be 
taken  as  a  type,  and  which  can  hardly  be  considered 
accidental.  If  any  historical  connection  (direct  or  in¬ 
direct)  can  be  traced  with  a  fair  degree  of  probability, 
we  may  reasonably  look  to  this  for  the  solution  of  such 
coincidences.  I  shall  content  myself  here  with  stating 
the  dilFerent  ways  in  which  such  a  connection  was  possi¬ 
ble  or  probable,  without  venturing  to  affirm  what  was 
actually  the  case,  for  the  data  are  not  sufficient  to  justify 
any  definite  theory.* 

The  weakest  part  of  Lightfoot’s  criticism  is  his  en¬ 
deavor  to  show  that  these  coincidences  are  due  to  the 
Semitic  origin  of  Stoicism,  and  that  Tarsus,  especially, 
being  a  seat  of  Stoic  philosophy,  Paul  became  acquainted 
with  that  system,  and  used  the  religious  vocabulary  of 
the  Stoics  in  his  epistles,  or  “found  in  the  ethical  lan¬ 
guage  of  the  Stoics  expressions  more  fit  than  he  could  find 
elsewhere  to  describe  in  certain  aspects  the  duties  and 
privileges,  the  struggles  and  the  triumphs,  of  the  Chris¬ 
tian  life.”  Lightfoot  really  attributes  the  remarkable 
coincidences  between  Paul  and  Seneca  to  Paul’s  using 
Stoical  terminology,  a  thing  which  can  not  be  admitted 
for  a  moment.  Had  there  been  no  Stoa,  there  could  have 
been,  just  as  easily,  the  great  structure  of  the  Pauline 
theology.  Paul  used  the  Greek  language,  with  all  its 
charm  of  imagery  and  subtle  force,  as  the  vehicle  of  his 
thoughts ;  but  he  placed  no  dependence,  in  the  construc¬ 
tive  part  of  his  theology,  on  the  poor  resources  of  any 
system  of  pagan  philosophy.  It  was  Seneca,  and  not  any 

*  Epistle  to  the  Pliilippians,  pp.  300,  301. 


INTRODUCTION. 


37 


Other  writer  of  his  entire  school,  or  of  all  paganism,  who 
used,  in  the  same  sense  as  Paul,  such  words  as  flesh,  angel, 
holy  spirit,  and  offspring  of  God.* 

It  is  not  at  all  improbable  that  Paul  and  Seneca  were 
acquainted  with  each  other.  Paul  long  had  in  mind  a 
visit  to  Rome,  and  regarded  that  metropolis  as  a  point 
of  departure  for  missionary  labors  in  Spain,  if  not  in  the 
North  (Romans  i,  13  ;  xv,  23,  24),  and  we  can  not  suppose 
him  to  have  been  without  interest  in  the  prevailing  relig¬ 
ious  thought  of  the  time  and  place.  This  would  account 
for  an  independent  interest  in  the  best  contemporary 
moral  writer,  Seneca,  and  would  make  their  meeting  no 
undesirable  event  on  the  apostle’s  part.  Seneca,  too, 
would  be  equally  interested  in  the  man  who  stood  at  the 
head  of  the  new  faith,  and  of  whose  writings  he  might 
well  have  had  some  knowledge.  Once,  when  an  impor¬ 
tant  crisis  had  arrived  in  Paul’s  ministry,  in  Corinth,  and 
when  the  issue  of  an  important  Jewish  persecution  of 
him  had  to  be  decided  by  the  governor  of  Achaia,  to 
whom  appeal  had  been  made,  the  result  was  favorable  to 
Paul;  for,  after  the  Jews  had  made  their  charge,  and 
Paul  was  about  to  open  his  mouth  in  his  own  defense, 
this  governor  or  deputy,  Gallio  by  name,  regarded  it  un¬ 
necessary,  and  dismissed  the  charge  in  these  words:  “If 
it  were  a  matter  of  wrong,  or  wicked  lewdness,  O  ye 
Jews,  reason  would  that  I  should  bear  with  you;  but  if  it 
be  a  question  of  words  and  names,  and  of  your  law,  look 
ye  to  it:  for  I  will  be  no  judge  of  such  matters.”  The  re¬ 
sult  was,  he  drove  them  from  th.e  judgment-seat.  Now 
who  should  this  Gallio  be  but  Seneca’s  own  brother, 
M.  Annaeus  Novatus,  who  took  the  name  Junius  Annaeus 
Gallio  on  passing  by  adoption  into  another  family.  Far¬ 
rar,  not  without  good  ground,  says:  “We  can  easily  im- 


*  See  Piirallelisms,  at  end  of  Introduction. 


38 


‘  INTRODUCTION. 


agine  that  Gallic  was  Seneca’s  favorite  brother,  and  we 
are  not  surprised  to  find  that  the  philosopher  dedicated 
to  him  his  three  books  on  ‘Anger,’  and  his  charming 
little  treatise  ‘On  a  Happy  Life  !’  ”*  Seldom  has  a  broth¬ 
er  paid  to  another  such  a  tribute  as  Seneca  thus  pays  to 
his  brother  Gallic;  “I  used  to  say  to  you  that  my  brother 
Gallic  (whom  every  one  loves  a  little,  even  people  who 
can  not  love  him  much)  was  wholly  ignorant  of  other 
vices,  but  even  detested  this.  You  might  try  him  in  any 
direction.  You  began  to  praise  his  intellect — an  intellect 
of  the  highest  and  worthiest  kind,  .  .  .  and  he  walked 
away  !  You  began  to  praise  his  moderation  ;  he  instant¬ 
ly  cut  short  your  first  words.  You  began  to  express  ad¬ 
miration  for  his  blandness  and  natural  suavity  of  man¬ 
ner,  .  .  .  yet  even  here  he  resisted  your  compliments;  and 
if  you  were  led  to  exclaim  that  you  had  found  a  man  who 
could  not  be  overcome  by  those  insidious  attacks  which 
every  one  else  admits,  and  hoped  that  he  would  at  least 
tolerate  this  compliment  because  of  its  truth,  even  on  this 
ground  he  would  resist  your  flattery ;  not  as  though  you 
had  been  awkward,  or  as  though  he  suspected  that  you 
were  jesting  with  him,  or  had  some  secret  end  in  view, 
but  simply  because  he  had  a  horror  of  every  form  of  adu¬ 
lation. ”f  Must  we  not  suppose  that  the  relations  between 
two  such  brothers  were  very  intimate?];  And  is  there  not 
excellent  ground  for  the  conjecture  of  Schoell,  in  his  ITis- 
toire  de  la  Litterature  Romaine :  “  In  all  probability  the 
propraetor,  in  his  correspondence  with  his  brother,  had 
mentioned  this  Jewish  teacher,  who  had  preached  the 
Gospel  for  eighteen  months  in  the  capital  of  his  prov- 

*  Seekers  after  God,  pp.  20,  21.  t  Qnaestiones  Naturales,  lib.  iv. 

f  On  the  relations  of  Paul  and  Gallio,  and  the  character  of  the  latter, 
comp.  Lewin,  Life  and  Epistles  of  St.  Paul.  Second  edition.  Vol.  i, 
pp.  291,  292. 


INTRODUCTION. 


39 


ince !”  It  must  also  be  borue  in  mind  that  the  most 
striking  parallels  between  Seneca  and  St.  Paul  occur  in 
the  later  works  of  Seneca,  such  as  his  De  Vita  Beata  and 
De  Beneficiis^  both  of  which  were  composed  after  A.D. 
61 — the  year  when  Paul  arrived  in  Rome — and,  above  all, 
in  his  epistles,  written  near  the  close  of  his  life.*  When 
Paul  arrived  in  Rome  he  was  placed  in  charge  of  the  pre¬ 
fect  of  the  Praetorian  Guards,  who  allowed  him  to  dwell 
in  a  private  house  with,  a  soldier,  who  kept  him  in  sight, 
and  gave  him  liberty  to  see  his  friends.  Now  this  prefect 
was  none  other  than  Burrhus,  whom  we  have  already 
mentioned  as  an  intimate  friend  of  Seneca,  and  associate 
of  the  latter  at  Nero’s  court.  “Is  it  not  natural,”  M. 
Schoell  well  asks,  “to  suppose  that  their  conversation 
would  have  turned  upon  this  bold  and  eloquent  Jewish 
teacher,  who,  on  account  of  new  religious  opinions,  had 
been  persecuted  in  Palestine,  and  had  appealed  to  the  tri¬ 
bunal  of  the  emperor?  Would  not  Seneca  have  been 
curious  to  see  and  hear  this  extraordinary  man?”  We 
do  not  regard  it  necessary  to  suppose  that  any  special 
intimacy  existed  between  the  Christian  Paul  and  the 
Stoic  Seneca,  in  order  to  account  for  parallelism  in  their 
writings.  The  tradition,  deep-rooted,  and  often  repeated 
through  many  centuries,  is  at  least  very  significant.  Or, 
as  De  Maistre  says:  “The  tradition  concerning  the  Chris¬ 
tianity  of  Seneca,  and  on  his  relations  with  St.  Paul,  with¬ 
out  being  finally  decisive,  is  nevertheless  far  more  than 
nothing,  if  one  connect  with  it  certain  other  presump¬ 
tions.”!  Seneca’s  mental  altitude  and  achievements  prove 
him  to  have  been  ready  for  at  least  a  guarded  inter- 

*  Fr.  Ch.  Gelpe,  Tractatiuncula  de  familiavitate  qnae  Paulo  apostolo 
cum  Seneca  philosoplio  intercessisse  traditur,  veiisimillima.  Lips,,  1813, 
4to.  Quoted  in  New  Brunswick  Review,  Feb.,  1855. 

t  Soirees  de  Saint  Petersbourg,  IX®  Entretien. 


40 


INTRODUCTION. 


change  of  opinions  with  Paul,  and  it  may  well  have  hap¬ 
pened  that  the  influence  of  the  philosopher  at  Nero’s 
court  had  weight  in  securing  such  delay  of  the  Apostle’s 
trial  as  resulted  later  in  the  latter’s  liberation,  and  in  his 
making  one  more  missionary  tour. 


PARALLELS  OR  RESEMBLANCES  TO  HOLY  SCRIPTURE 
IN  SENECA’S  AYRITINGS. 

1.  God’s  Mercy  and  Goodness. 

“  He  maketh  his  sun  to  rise  on  the  evil  and  on  the  good,  and 
sendeth  rain  on  the  just  and  on  the  unjust.”  Matt,  v,  45. 

“  The  earth  is  full  of  the  goodness  of  the  Lord.”  Psalm 
xxxiii,  5. 

“  He  doth  not  afflict  willingly,  nor  grieve  the  children  of  men.” 
Lam.  hi,  33. 

‘‘'‘How  many  are  ummrthy  of  the  light;  and  yet  the  day  daiciu 
.  .  .  See  what  great  things  the  gods  Iring  to  pass  daily,  lohat  great 
gifts  they  hestow,  with  what  abundant  fruits  they  fll  the  earth  .  . 
with  what  suddenly  falling  showers  they  soften  the  ground.  ...  If 
you  imitate  the  gods,  confer  benefits  even  on  the  unthankful :  for  the 
sun  rises  even  on  the  wicked,  and  the  seas  are  opjen  to  pirutes.'''’  De 
Benef.  i,  1,  11 ;  iv,  25,  26  ;  cf.  also  vii,  31. 

“  The  deity  waiits  not  ministers.  How  so  ?  He  himself  minis¬ 
ter  eth  to  the  human  race.  He  is  at  hand  everywhere,  and  to  all 
men.’’’^  “  The  man  is  mistaken  who  thinks  that  the  gods  afflict  any 

one  willingly Epist.  95,  47,  48. 

2.  Omniscience  of  God. 

“  Shall  not  God  search  this  out  ?  for  he  knoweth  the  secrets 
of  the  heart.”  Ps.  xliv,  21. 

“All  things  are  naked  and  opened  unto  the  eyes  of  him  with 
whom  we  have,  to  do.”  Heb.  iv,  13. 

“  Pray  to  thy  Father  which  is  in  secret ;  and  thy  Father  which 
seeth  in  secret  shall  reward  thee  openly.”  Matt,  vi,  6. 


INTEODUCTION. 


41 


“  For  tlie  Lord  seeth  not  as  man  seeth ;  for  man  looketh  on 
the  outward  appearance,  but  the  Lord  looketh  on  the  heart.” 
1  Sam.  xvi,  7 ;  see  also  Luke  xvi,  15. 

“  Certainly  we  ought  so  to  live  as  if  we  were  living  in  the  very 
sight  of  man  ;  we  ought  so  to  think  as  if  some  one  were  able  to  gaze 
into  the  inmost  recesses  of  our  heart,  And,^  indeed,^  there  is  one  able 
so  to  do.  For  ivhgt  avails  it  to  keep  any  thing  secret  from  man  f 
Nothing  is  hid  or  closed  to  god :  he  is  pi'esent  to  our  minds,  and  en¬ 
ters  into  the  midst  of  our  thoughts.'^'’  Epist.  83, 1. 

“iV5  one  knows  god;  many  entertain  strange  and  wicked  opin¬ 
ions  about  him,  even  with  impunity.'^''  Epist.  31,  9. 

3.  Indwellinu  op  God’s  Spirit. 

“Know  ye  not  that  ye  are  the  temple  of  God,  and  that  the 
Spirit  of  God  dwelleth  in  you  ?”  1  Cor.  iii,  16. 

“  He  that  raised  up  Christ  from  the  dead  shall  also  quickdn 
your  mortal  bodies  by  his  Spirit  that  dwelleth  in  you.”  Horn, 
viii,  11. 

“  God  is  near  thee ;  he  is  with  thee;  he  is  within  thee.  ...  A 
holy  spirit  resides  within  us,  and  is  the  guardian  and  observer  of 
our  good  and  evil  deedsA  Epist.  41,  1. 

“  Do  you  wonder  that  man  goes  to  the  gods  ?  God  comes  to  men  ; 
nay,  what  is  nearer,  he  comes  into  men.  No  good  mind  is  without 
god.^'’  Epist.  73, 14. 

4.  Forgiveness  op  Injuries. 

“  Then  came  Peter  unto  him  and  said.  Lord,  how  oft  shall 
my  brother  sin  against  me  and  I  forgive  him  ?  Till  seven 
times?  Jesus  saith  unto  him,  I  say  not  unto  thee  until  seven 
times,  but  until  seventy  times  seven.”  Matt,  xviii,  21 ;  Luke 
xvii,  4. 

“  If  tliine  enemy  hunger,  feed  him  ;  if  he  thirst,  give  him  drink  ; 
for  in  so  doing  thou  shalt  heap  coals  of  fire  on  his  head.”  Rom. 
xii,  20. 

“  A  wise  man  will  pardon  an  injury,  though  it  be  great,  and  if  he 
can  do  it  icithout  breach  of  piety  and  fidelity,  that  is,  if  the  whole  in¬ 
jury  shall  pertain  to  himself.''''  Epist.  81,  14. 

Let  him,  whoever  wishes,  treat  you  icith  reproach  and  injury ; 
you  will  suffer  7wthing  so  long  as  you  adhere  to  virtue.  If  you  wish 
to  be  happy,  to  be  a  good  man  in  good  faith,  suffer  it  that  any  one 
hrho  chooses)  contemn  or  dhespise  you.'’’’  Epist.  71,  7. 


42 


INTRODUCTION. 


“  I  will  he  agreeable  to  friends,  gentle  and  yielding  to  enemies.’’'* 
I)e  Vit.  Beat.  20,  4. 

5.  Self-Examination, 

Examine  yourselves,  whether  ye  be  in  the  faith  ;  prove  your 
own  selves.”  2  Cor.  xiii,  5. 

“  Let  a  man  examine  himself,”  etc.  1  Cor.  xi,  28. 

“  Let  us  search  and  try  our  ways,  and  turn  again  to  the  Lord.” 
Lam.  iii,  40. 

far  as  thou  canst.^  accuse  thy  self try  thyself:  discharge  the 
office.,  first  of  a  prosecutor.,  then  of  a  judge.,  lastly  of  an  intercessor.’’’’ 
Epist.  28,  7. 

’•''When  the  light  is  remored  out  of  sight.,  and  my  wife.,  who  is  by 
this  time  aware  of  my  practice.,  is  now  silent.,  I  pass  the  whole  of  my 
day  under  examination.,  and  I  review  my  deeds  and  words.  I  hide 
nothing  from  myself.,  I  pass  over  nothing.’’’’  Be  Ira,  iii,  36,  3. 

6.  Self-Sacrifice  for  Others. 

“I  will  very  gladly  spend  and  be  spent  for  you.”  2  Cor.  xii, 
15. 

“  I  am  the  good  shepherd :  the  good  shepherd  giveth  his  life 
for  the  sheep.”  John  x,  11. 

“  Good  men  toil,  they  spend,  and  are  spent,  willingly  indeed.’’’’  Be 
Prov.  5,  3. 

,  “  Let  us  use  these  things  {intrusted  to  us) ;  let  us  not  boast  of 
them;  and  let  us  use  them  sparingly,  as  a  loan  deposited  with  us 
which  will  soon  depart!  Epist.  74, 18. 

7,  Duties  Towards  Other  Men. 

“  Whatsoever  ye  would  that  men  should  do  unto  you,  do  ye 
even  so  unto  them.”  Matt,  vii,  12. 

“Masters,  give  unto  your  servants  that  which  is  equal  and 
just,  knowing  that  ye  also  have  a  Master  in  heaven.”  Col.  iv,  1. 

“  And  if  it  be  possible,  as  much  as  lieth  in  you,  live  peaceably 
with  all  men.”  Kom.  xii,  18. 

“  Thou  shalt  love  thy  neighbor  as  thyself.”  Matt,  xxii,  39. 

“  Be  kindly  atfectioned  one  to  another.  .  .  .  Recompense  no 
man  evil  for  evil.”  Rom.  xii,  10, 17. 

“  Th  ’is  is  the  sum  of  what  I  would  prescr’ibe  ;  Vive  so  with  an  in¬ 
ferior  as  you  would  have  a  superior  live  with  you.’’’’  Epist.  47,  9. 

“  Man  is  born  for  mutual  assistance.’”  Be  Ira,  i,  5,  2. 


INTRODUCTION. 


43 


mu8t  live  for  another^  if  you  would  live  for  yourself y 
Epist.  48,  2. 

“  While  we  are  among  men  let  us  cultivate  hindness  ;  let  us  not  1)6 
to  any  man  a  cause  of  peril  or  offearP  Be  Ira^  iii,  43,  5. 

“  I  will  so  live  as  if  I  hnew  that  I  was  lorn  for  others^  and  will 
give  thanhs  to  Nature  on  this  scorey  Be  Vit.  Beat.  20,  2. 

“  How  must  we  lehave  ourselves  towards  men  ?  and  how  do  we  le- 
have?  What  precepts  do  we  give  in  this  respect?  To  abstain  from 
shedding  human  blood  ?  But  what  a  small  thing  is  it  not  to  hurt 
him  to  whom  we  ought  to  do  all  the  good  that  lies  in  our  power  ?  It 
is  indeed  praiseworthy  for  men  to  be  Icindly  disposed  towards  one 
another.  Shall  we,  then,  direct  a  man  to  reach  out  his  hand  to  the 
shipwrecked,  to  show  the  wandering  traveller  his  way,  and  to  divide 
our  bread  with  the  hungry?  Yes,  certainly y  Epist.  95,  50,  51. 

8.  Obedience  True  Liberty. 

“  If  the  Son  shall  make  you  free,  ye  shall  be  free  indeed.  .  .  . 
Ye  shall  know  the  truth,  and  the  truth  shall  mal^e  you  free.” 
John  viii,  36,  32. 

“  Whoso  looketh  into  the  perfect  law  of  liberty  and  continueth 
therein.”  James  i,  25. 

“  Where  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord  is,  there  is  liberty.”  2  Cor.  iii, 
17. 

“  The  liberty  wherewith  Christ  hath  made  us  free.”  Gal.  v, 

1. 

“  To  obey  Ood  is  {true)  liberty?''  Be  Vit.  Beat.  15,6. 

“  It  is  necessary  for  you  to  serve  philoso2)hy,  in  order  that  true 
liberty  may  fall  to  your  loV'  (quoted  from  Epicurus).  Epist.  8,  6. 

9.  Dominion  of  Sin. 

“  The  imagination  of  man’s  heart  is  evil  from  his  youth.”  Gen. 
viii,  21. 

“  If  we  say  that  we  have  no  sin,  we  deceive  qurselves,  and  the 
truth  is  not  in  us.”  1  John  i,  8. 

“  You  hath  he  quickened,  who  were  dead  in  trespasses  and 
sins.”  Gal.  ii,  1,  5. 

“  Out  of  the  heart  proceed  evil  thoughts,  murders,  adulteries,” 
etc.  Matt.  XV,  19. 

“  If  we  would  be  upright  judges  of  all  things,  let  us  first  persuade 
ourselves  of  this,  that  not  one  of  us  is  icithout  fault.''''  ...  ^^  No  one 
will  be  found  who  can  acquit  himself ;  and  any  man  calling  himself 


44 


INTRODUCTION. 


innocent^  has  regard  to  the  witness^  not  to  his  awn  conscience^  De 
Ira^  ii,  27,  5  ;  i,  14,  3. 

“TIT;  shall  ever  he  obliged  to  'pronounce  the  same  sentence  upon  our¬ 
selves^  that  we  are  evil^  that  we  have  been  evil^  and^  I  will  add  it  un¬ 
willingly,  that  we  shall  be  evil.’’’’  .  .  .  “  All  vices  exist  in  all  men,  but 
all  do  not  exist  in  each  and  every  man  {ali]ce)y  De  Benef.  i,  10,  3 ; 
iv,  27,  2. 

“  The  first  and  greatest  punishment  of  sinners  is  the  fact  of  having' 
sinnedT  Epist,  97, 12. 

10.  Chastisements  for  Discipline. 

“  Beliold,  happy  is  the  man  whom  God  correcteth ;  therefore 
despise  not  thou  the  chastening  of  the  Almighty.”  Job  v,  17. 

“For  whom  the  Lord  loveth,  he  chasteneth,  and  scourgeth 
every  son  whom  he  receiveth.”  Heb.  xii,  6. 

“It  is  better,  if  the  will  of  God  be  so,  that  ye  suffer  for  well 
doing,  than  for  evil  doing.”  1  Pet.  iii,  17. 

“  Blessed  are  ye  when  men  shall  revile  you,  and  persecute  you, 
and  say  all  manner  of  evil  against  you  falsely,  for  my  sake  :  re¬ 
joice,  and  be  exceeding  glad  ;  for  great  is  your  reward  in  heav¬ 
en.”  Matt.  V,  11, 12. 

“  The  gods,  however,  sometimes  chastise,  and  coerce,  and  lay  heavy 
penalties  on  some  men,  and  punish  them  under  the  appearance  of 
some  good.  Do  you  desire  to  propitiate  the  gods  f  Be  a  good  man. 
He  has  sufficiently  and  properly  worshipped  the  gods  who  has  imi¬ 
tated  them  {to  the  extent  of  his  power).''''  Epist.  95,  50. 

'"^Nature  (i.  e.,  the  deity)  has  commanded  justice  and  equity  to 
us :  by  her  appointment  it  is  more  wretched  to  do  an  injury  than  to 
suffer  one  ;  and  by  her  command  our  hands  are  ever  ready  to  assist 
{a  brother).''’’  Epist.  95,  53. 

“  Ood  has  a  fatherly  mind  towards  good  men,  and  loves  them 
stoutly :  and,  he  says,  let  them  be  harassed  with  toils,  with  pains, 
with  losses,  that  they  may  gather  true  strength.’’’'  De  Prov.  2,  4. 

“  Those  therefcn'e  whom  Ood  ap'proves,  whom  he  loves,  them  he 
hardens,  he  chastises,  he  disciplines.’’''  De  Prov.  4,  7. 

“A  life  free  from  care  and  from  any  buffetings  of  fortune  is  a 
dead  sea.’’’’  Epist.  67, 14. 

.  11.  Avarice,  or  Loye  of  Money. 

'  • 

“  And  he  said.  This  will  I  do  :  I  will  pull  down  my  barns,  and 
build  greater;  and  there  will  I  bestow  all  my  fruits  and  my 


INTRODUCTION. 


45 


goods.  And  I  will  say  to  my  soul,  Soul,  thou  hast  much  goods 
laid  up  for  many  years ;  take  tliiue  ease,  eat,  drink,  and  be  mer¬ 
ry.  But  God  said  unto  him.  Thou  fool,  this  night  thy  soul  shall 
be  required  of  thee ;  then  whose  shall  those  things  be  which 
thou  hast  provided  ?”  Matt,  xii,  17-19. 

“  The  love  of  money  is  the  root  of  all  evil.”  1  Tim.  vi,  10. 

“  It  is  easier  for  a  camel  to  go  through  the  eye  of  a  needle, 
than  for  a  rich  man  to  enter  into  the  kingdom  of  God.”  Matt, 
xix,  24. 

‘‘  Godliness  with  contentment  is  great  gain.”  1  Tim.  vi,  6. 

“  Lay  not  up  for  yourselves  treasures  upon  earth,  where  moth 
and  rust  doth  corrupt  .  .  .  for  where  your  treasure  is,  there  will 
your  heart  be  also.”  Matt,  vi,  19-21. 

Apply  thyself  to  the  true  riches.  It  is  shameful  to  depend  for  a 
happy  life  on  silver  and  gold.’’''  Epist.  110, 18. 

“  Let  thy  good  deeds  he  invested  like  a  treasure  deep  huried  in  the 
ground.,  which  thou  canst  not  bring  to  light,  except  it  he  necessary.^'' 
De  Vit.  Beat.  24,  2. 

“  0  how  great  is  the  madness  of  those  who  emhark  on  distant  hopes : 
I  will  huy,  Twill  huild,  I  will  Und  out,  1  tv  ill  demand  payment,  I  will 
hear  honors  ;  then  at  length  I  will  resign  my  old  age,  wearied  and  sated, 
to  restr  Epist.  101,  4. 

shall  he  wise  if  we  desire  hut  little;  if  each  man  takes  count 
of  himself,  and  at  the  same  time  measures  his  own  hody,  he  will  know 
how  little  it  can  contain,  and  for  how  short  a  time.’’''  Epist.  114,  26. 

12.  Life  a  Warfare. 

“  Is  there  not  a  warfare  to  every  man  upon  earth  ?”  Job  vii,  1. 

“  So  fight  I,  not  as  one  that  beateth  the  air ;  but  I  keep  under 
my  body,  and  bring  it  into  subjection,  lest  that  by  any  means 
when  I  have  preached  to  others,  I  myself  should  be  a  castaway.” 
1  Cor.  ix,  26,  27. 

“  Dearly  beloved,  I  beseech  you,  as  strangers  and  pilgrims,  to 
abstain  from  fleshly  lusts,  which  war  against  the  soul.”  1  Pet. 
ii,ll. 

“Thou  therefore  endure  hardness,  as  a  good  soldier  of  Jesus 
Christ.”  2  Tim.  ii,  3. 

“  Fight  the  good  flght  of  faith.”  1  Tim.  vi,  12. 

“  This  I  say,  brethren,  the  time  is  short.  It  remaineth  .  .  . 
that  (ye)  use  this  world  as  not  abusing  it.  For  the  fashion  of 
this  world  passeth  away.”  1  Cor.  vii,  29,  31. 

c 


46 


INTRODUCTION. 


“  Life  itself  my  Lucilius^  is  a  warfare.''''  Epist.  96,  3.  See  Epist, 
120,13;  51,5. 

“  We  can  never  quarrel  enough  loith  our  vices,  which,  I  beseech  you, 
Lucilius,  to  persecute  perpetually.  Throw  away  from  you  everything 
that  tears  the  heart ;  and  if  you  cannot  otherwise  get  rid  of  it,  spare 
not  the  heart  itself.''''  Epist.  51, 13. 

'■'■What  blows  do  athletes  receive  in  their  face,  what  blows  all  over 
their  body.  .  .  .  Yet  they  bear  all  the  torture  from  thirst  of  glory. 
Let  us  also  overcome  all  things,  for  our  reward  is  not  a  crown  or  a 
palm-branch,  or  the  trumpeter  proclaiming  silence  foi'  the  announce¬ 
ment  of  our  name,  but  virtue  and  strength  of  mind,  and  peace  ac¬ 
quired  ever  after.'''  Epist.  78, 15. 

“  The  end  of  all  things  is  at  hand  ;  that  (jperiod),  L  say,  is  near' 
whence  the  happy  man  is  cast  out,  and  the  unhappy  released.'''  Epist. 
110,4. 


13.  Keed  op  Divine  Grace. 

“  By  grace  are  ye  saved  through  faith ;  and  that  not  of  your¬ 
selves  ;  it  is  the  gift  of  God.”  Eph.  ii,  8. 

“  Not  that  we  are  sufficient  of  ourselves  to  think  any  thing  as 
of  ourselves ;  but  our  sufficiency  is  of  God.”  2  Cor.  iii,  5.  See 
also  Kom.  vii,  18, 19. 

“  Without  me  ye  can  do  nothing.”  John  xv,  5. 

“  What  is  it,  Lucilius,  that,  as  we  are  intentionally  going  one  way, 
still  drives  us  another  ?  What  is  it  that  detains  us  there,  where  we 
have  no  inclination  to  stay  f  What  is  it  that  thwarts  our  will,  nor 
permits  us  to  determine  upon  any  one  thing  seriously  f  Our  thoughts 
are  ever  wavering  ;  we  will  nothing  freely,  nothing  absolutely  and  al¬ 
ways.  .  .  .  But  how  or  when  shall  we  get  cured  of  this  {malady)  ? 
No  one  has  strength  enough  of  himself  to  emerge  {from  it)."  Epist. 
52, 1.  See  also  Epist.  102. 


L.  ANNAS  I  SENECAS 


AD  LUCILIUM 

QUAKE  ALIQUA  INCOMMODA  BONIS  VIRIS 
ACCIDANT  CUM  PROVIDENTIA  SIT 

SIVE 

DE  PROVIDENTIA 


LIBER  UNUS. 


Si  quis  autem  volet  scire  plenius,  cur  males  et  iniustos  deus  poten- 
tes,  beatos,  divites  fieri  sinat,  pios  contra  humiles,  miseros,  inopesque 
esse  patiatur;  sumat  eum  Senecae  librum,  cui  titulus  est:  Quare  bonis 
viris  multa  mala  accidant^  cum  sit  providentia:  in  quo  ille  multa,  non 
plane  imperitm  saeculari,  sed  sapienter  ac  paene  divinitus  elocutus  est. 

Lactantius. 


AD  LUCILIUM 


DE  PROYIDENTIA. 


I.  Quaesisti  a  me,  Liicili,  quid  ita,  si  providentia 
mnndus  ageretur,  miilta  bonis  viris  mala  accidei’e  ? 
Hoc  commodius  in  coiitextu  operis  redderetnr,  cum 
praeesse  universis  providentiam  probaremiis  et  iiiter- 
esse  nobis  denm :  sed  qnoniam  a  toto  particulam  re- 
A^elli  placet  et  nnam  contradictionem  manente  lite  Inte¬ 
gra  solvere,  faciam  rem  non  difficile.m,  cansam  deornm 
agam.  2.  Snpervaciinm  est  in  praesentia  ostendere  non 
sine  aliqno  custode  tantnm  opus  stare,  nec  hunc  side- 
rum  coetuin  discursuraque  fortuiti  inpetus  esse,  et  quae 
casus  incitat  saepe  turbari  et  cito  arietare,  banc  inoffen- 
sam  velocitatem  procedure  aeternae  legis  imperio  tan- 
tuin  reriiin  terra  mariqiie  gestantem,  tantnm  clarissimo- 
ruin  Inminnm  et  ex  dispositore  Incentium:  non  esse 
rnateriae  errantis  hunc  ordinem,  nec  quae  tern  ere  coie- 
rnnt,  tanta  arte  pendere,  ut  teiTarnm  gravissimnm  pon- 
dus  sedeat  inmotum  et  circa  se  pi’opei’antis  coeli  fiigain 
spectet,  ut  infnsa  vallibiis  maria  molliant  terras  nec 
nllurn  incrementum  lluniinum  sentiairt,  ut  ex  minimis 
seininibus  nascantur  ingen tia.  3.  Ne  ilia  qnidem  quae 
videntur  confusa  et  incerta,  pluvias  dico  nubesque  et 
elisorum  fulminum  iactus  et  incendia  riqrtis  montiiim 


50 


L.  ANNAEI  SENECAE 


verticibus  effusa,  tremores  labaiitis  soli  et  alia  quae  tu- 
miiltnosa  pars  rerum  circa  terras  movet,  sine  ratione, 
quamvis  subita  sint,  accidunt  :  sed  suas  et  ilia  causas 
liabent  non  minus  quam  quae  alienis  locis  conspecta 
miraculo  sunt,  nt  in  mediis  fiuctibns  calentes  aquae  et 
nova  insular um  in  vasto  exsilientium  mari  spatia.  4. 
lam.vero  si  quis  observaverit  nudari  litora  pelago  in  se 
recedente  eademqiie  intra  exigunm  tempus  operiri,  cre- 
det  caeca  qnadam  volutatione  modo  contrabi  undas  et 
introrsum  agi,  modo  erumpere  et  magno  cursu  repetere 
sedem  suam :  cum  interim  illae  portionibus  crescunt  et  ’ 
ad  lioram  ac  diem  subeunt  amplioresbninoresque,  prout  ' 
illas  lunare  sidus  elicuit,  ad  cuius  arbitrium  oceanus 
exundat.  Suo  ista  tempori  reserventur  eo  quidem  nia- 
gis,  quod  tu  non  dubitas  de  providentia,  sed  quaeris.  5. 
In  gratiarn  te  reducam  cum  dis  ad  versus  optimos  opti- 
mis.  Iseque  enim  rerum  natura  patitur  ut  umquam 
bona  bonis  noceant.  Inter  bonos  viros  ac  deos  amicitia 
est  conciliante  virtute :  amicitiam  dico  ?  immo  etiam 
necessitudo  et  similitude :  quoniam  quidem  bonus  tem¬ 
pore  tantum  a  deo  differt,  discipulus  eius  aemulatorque 
et  vera  progenies,  quam  parens  ille  magnificus,  virtu- 
tum  non  leiiis  exactor,  sicut  severi  patres,  durius  edu- 
cat.  6.  Itaque  cum  videris  bonos  viros  acceptosque  dis 
laborare,  sudare,  per  arduum  escendere,  males  autem 
lascivire  et  yoluptatibus  tluere ;  cogita  filiorum  nos  mo- 
destia  delectari,  vernularum  licentia-:  illos  disciplina 
tristiori  contineri,  borum  ali  audaciam.  Idem  tibi  de 
deo  li^ueat:  bonum  viruni  in  deliciis  non  habet:  expe- 
ritur,  indurat,  sibi  ilium  parat. 

II.  Quare  multa  bonis  viris  adversa  eveniunt  ?  Ki- 
hil  accidere  bono  viro  mali  potest;  non  miscentur  contra- 


DE  PKOVIDENTIA.  CAP.  II. 


51 


ria.  Qnemadmodiim  tot  amnes,  tantiim  sn}3erne  deiec 
toi’um  imbriiim,  tanta  medicatoriiin  vis  foiitiiim  non 
mutant  saporem  maris,  ne  remittunt  cpidem :  ita  ad- 
versarum  inpetus  rerum  viri  fortis  non  vertit  anirnum. 
Manet  in  statu  et  quicquid  evenit,  in  suum  colorem  tra- 
hit.  Est  enim  omnibus  externis  potentior.  Isec  hoc 
dico,  non  sentit  ilia,  sed  vincit  et  alioquin  quietus  pla- 
cidusque  contra  incurrentia  adtollitur.  Omnia  adversa 
exercitationes  piitat.  2.  Quis  autem,  vir  modo  et  erec- 
tus  ad  lionesta,  non  est  laboris  adpetens  iusti  et  ad  offi- 
cja  cum  periculo  promptus?  cui  non  industrio  otium 
poena  est?  Athletas  videmus,  quibus  virium  cura  est, 
cum  fortissiinis  quibusque  conlligere  et  exigere  ab  his 
per  quos  certamini  praeparantur,  ut  totis  contra  ipsos 
viribus  utantur:  caedi  se  vexarique  patiuntur  et,  si  non 
inveniunt  singulos  pares,  pluribus  simul  obiciuntur.  3. 
Marcet  sine  adversario  virtus :  tunc  adparet  quanta  sit 
quantumque  polleat,  cum  quid  possit  patientia  ostendit. 
Scias  licet  idem  viris  bonis  esse  faciendum,  ut  dura  ac 
difficilia  non  reformident  nec  de  fato  querantur :  quic- 
quid  'accidit,  boni  consulant,  in  bonura  vertant.  Non 
quid,  sed  quemadmodum  feras  interest.  Non  vides, 
quanto  aliter  patres,  aliter  matres  indulgeant  ?  illi  ex* 
ercitari  iubent  liberos  ad  studia  obeunda  mature,  feri- 
atis  quoque  diebus  non  patiuntur  esse  otiosos  et  sudo- 
rem  illis  et  interdum  lacrimas  excutiunt:  at  matres 
fovere  in  sinu,  continere  in  umbra  volunt,  numquam 
here,  numquam  contristari,  numquam  laborare.  4.  Pa- 
triuin  deus  habet  adversus  bonos  viros  anirnum  et  illos 
fortiter  amat  et,  operibus,  inquit,  doloribus,  damnis  exa- 
gitentur,  ut  verum  colligant  robur.  Languent  per  iner- 
tiam  saginata  nec  labore  tantum,  sed  motu  et  ipso  sui 


LIBRARY 

UNIVERSITY  OF  liUNni?' 


52 


L.  ANNAET  SENECAE 


onere  deficiunt.  Non  fert  iillum  ictiiin  inlaesa  felici- 
tas  :  at  ubi  adsidua  fait  cum  iiicommodis  suis  rixa,  cal- 
lain  per  iiiiurias  duxit  iiec  ulli  malo  cedit,  sed  etiam  si 
cecidit,  de  genu  pugnat.  5.  Miraris  tu,  si  deus  ille  bo- 
norum  amautissimus,  qui  illos  quam  optimos  esse  atque 
excellentissimos  vult,  fortunam  illis  cum  qua  exerce- 
aiitur  adsignat  ?  Ego  vero  non  miror.  Si  aliquando  in- 
petum  capiunt,  spectant  di  magnos  viros  conluctantes 
cum  aliqua  calamitate.  Nobis  interdum  voluptati  est,  si 
adulescens  constantis  animi  inruentem  feram  venabulo 
excepitj  si  leonis  incursurn  interritus  pertulit :  tantoque 
hoc  spectaculum  est  gratius,  quauto  id  honestior  fecit. 
6.  Non  sunt  ista,  quae  posrsint  deorum  in  se  voltum 
coiivertere,  puerilia  et  humanae  oblectamenta  levitatis. 
Ecce  spectaculum  dignum  ad  quod  respiciat  intentus 
operi  suo  deus;  ecce  par  deo  dignum,  vir  fortis  cum 
fortuna  mala  conpositus,  utique  si  et  provocavit.  Non 
video,  inquam,  quid  habeat  in  tends  lupiter  pulclirius, 
si  convertere  animum  velit,  quam  ut  spectet  Catonem 
iam  partibus  non  semel  fractis  stantem  nihilominus 
inter  ruinas  publicas  rectum.  7.  Licet,  inquit,  omnia 
in  unius  ditionem  concesserint,  custodiantur  legionibus 
terrae,  classibus  maria,  Caesarianus  portas  miles  obsi- 
deat :  Cato  qua  exeat  habet.  Una  manu  latara  liberta- 
ti  viam  faciet :  ferrum  istud,  etiam  civili  bello  ^purum 
et  innoxium,  bonas  tandem  ac  nobiles  edet  operas:  li- 
bertatem  quam  patriae  non  potuit,  Catoni  dabit.  Ad- 
gredere,  anime,  diu  meditatum  opus,  eripe  te  rebus  hu- 
mauis.  8.  Iam  Petreius  et  Tuba  concucurrerunt  ia- 
centque  alter  alterius  manu  caesi :  fortis  et  egregia  fati 
conventio,  sed  quae  non  deceat  magnitudinem  nostrarn; 
tain  turpe  est  Catoni^  mortem  ab  ullo  petere  quam  vi- 


DE  PROVIDENTIA.  CAP.  III. 


53 


tani.  Liquet  mihi  cum  magno  spectasse  gaudio  decs, 
cum  ille  vir,  acerrimus  sui  vindex,  alienae  saluti  consulit 
etinstruit  discedentium  fngam;  dum  studia  etiam  nocte 
ultima  tractat,  dum  gladium  sacro  pectori  iiifigit,  dum 
viscera  spargit  et  illam  sanctissimam  animam  iiidig- 
iiamque  quae  ferro  contamiiiaretur,  maiiu  educit.  9. 
Iiide  crediderim  fuisse  parum  certum  et  efficax  vein  us: 
lion  fuit  dis  imnortalibus  satis  spectare  Catoiiem  sernel: 
reteiita  ac  revocata  virtiis  est,  ut  in  difficiliore  parte  se 
ostenderet.  l^on  enim  tarn  magno  animo  mors  inicitur 
quain  repetitur.  Quidni  libenter  spectarent  alumnum 
suum  tarn  claro  ac  memorabili  exitu  evadentem  ?  mors 
illos  consecrat,  quorum  exitum  et  qui  timent  laudant. 

III.  Sed  iam  procedente  oratione  ostendam,  quam 
yion  sint  quae  videntur  mala.  Nunc  illud  dico,  ista 
quae  tu  vocas  aspera,  quae  ad  versa  et  abominanda,  pri- 
mum  pro  ipsis  esse  quibus  accidunt,  deinde  pro  imi- 
versis,  quorum  maior  dis  cura  quam  singulorum  est: 
post  hoc  volentibus  accidere  ac  dignos  raalo  esse,  si 
nolint.  His  adiciam  fato  ista  sic  et  recte  eadem  lege 
bonis  evenire  qua  sunt  boni.  Persuadebo  deinde  tibi, 
lie  umquam  boni  viri  miserearis  :  potest  enim  miser  dici, 
non  potest  esse.  2.  Difficillimum  ex  omnibus  quae  pro- 
posui  videtur  quod  primum  dixi,  pro  ipsis  esse  quibus 
eveniunt  ista,  quae  horremus  ac  tremimus.  Pro  ipsis 
est,  inquis,  in  exilium  proici,  in  egestatem  deduci^  libe- 
ros,  coniugem  ecferre,  ignominia  adfici,  debilitari?  Si 
miraris  haec  pro  aliquo  esse,  miraberis  quosdam  ferro 
et  igne  curari  nec  minus  fame  ac  siti.  Sed  si  cogitave- 
ris  tecum,  remedii^causa  quibusdam  et  radi  ossa  et  legi 
et  extrahi  venas  et  quaedam  amputari  membra,  quae 
sine  totius  pernicie  corporis  liaerere  non  poterant;  hoc 

C  2 


54 


L.  ANNAEI  SENECAE 


quoqne  patieris  probari  tibi,  qnaedam  ineommoda  pro 
his  esse^quibns  accidunt,  tarn  mehercules  qiiain- quae- 
dam  quae  laiidantur  atque  adpetimtur,  contra  eos  esse 
quos  delectaverunt,  simillima  cruditatibus  ebrietatibus- 
que  et  ceteris  quae  necant  per  voluptatem.  3.  Inter 
multa  magnifica  Demetrii  nostri  et  liaec  vox  est,  a  qua 
recens  sum:  sonat  adhuc  et  vibrat  in  auribus  meis. 
JSFihil^  inquit,  mihi  videtur  infelicius  eo,  cui  nihil 
umq%arri  evenit  adversi.  Non  licuit  enim  illi  se  expe- 
riri.  IJt  ex  voto  illi  fluxerint  omnia,  ut  ante  votum, 
male  tanien  de  illo  di  iudicaverunt :  indignus  visus  est 
a  quo  vinceretur  aliquando  fortuna,  quae  ignavissimum 
queinqne  refugit,  quasi  dicat :  Quid  ergo  istum  mihi 
adversarium  adsumami  statira  arma  submittet:  non 
opus  est  in  ilium  tota  potentia  mea :  levi  conminatione 
pelletur ;  non  potest  sustinere  voltum  meum.  4.  Alius  ' 
circumspiciatur  cum  quo  conferre  possimus  manum: 
pudet  congredi  cum  homine  vinci  pafata  Ignominiam 
iudicat  gladiator  cum  inferiore  conponi  et  scit  eum 
sine  gloria  Vinci,  qui  sine  periculo  vincitur.  Idem  facit 
fortuna;  fortissimos  sibi  pares  quaerit,  quosdam  fas- 
tidio  transit. /Contumacissimum  quemque  et  rectissi- 
mum  adgreditur,  adversus  quern  vim  suam  intendat. 

6.  Ignem  experitur  in  Mucio,  paupertatem  in  Fabiicio, 
exilium  in  Kutilio,  tormenta  in  Kegulo,  venenum  in 
Socrate,  mortem  in  Catone.  Magnum  exemplum  nisi 
mala  fortuna  non  invenit.  Infelix  est  Mucins,  quod 
dextei'a  ignes  hostiura  pi’emit  et  ipse  a  se  exigit  erroris 
sui  poenas  ?  quod  regem  quern  arraata  manu  non  po- 
tuit,  exusta  fugat?  Quid  ergo  ?  felicior  esset,  si  in  sinu 
arnicae  foveret  manum  ?!  6.  Infelix  est  Fabricius,  quod 
rus  suum,  quantum  a  republica  vacavit,  fodit  ?  quod 


Di:  PKOVIDENTIA.  CAP.  III.  55 

bell  urn  f am  cum  Pyrrho  quam  cum  divitiis  gerit?  quod 
ad  focmh  coqnat  illas  ipsas  radices  et  herbas,  qiias  in 
repiirgando  agro  triumphalis  senex  vulsit  ?  Quid  ergo  ? 
felicior  esset,  si  in  ventrem  suum  longinqui  litoris  pisceS* 
et  peregrina  aucupii:  congereret  ?  si  conchyliis  superi 
atqne  inferi  maris  pigritiam  stomachi  naiisiantis  erige- 
ret  ?  si  ingenti  pomorum  strue  cingeret  primae  formae 
feras,  captas  multa  caede  venantium?  7.  Infelix  est 
Rutiliiis,  quod  qni  ilium  damnaverunt,  caiisam  dicent 
omnibus  seculis?  quod  aequiore  animo  passus  est  se  pa¬ 
triae  eripi  quam  sibi  exilium?  Quod  Sullae  dictatori 
solus  aliquid  negavit  et  revocatus  non  tantum  retro 
cessit,  Sed  longius  fugit  ?  Yiderint,  inquit,  isti  quos  Ro- 
mae  deprehendit  felicitas  tua.  Yideant  largum  in  foro 
sanguinem  et  supra  Servilianum  lacum  (id  enim  pro- 
scriptionis  Sullanae  spoliarium  est)  senatorum  capita  et 
passim  vagantis  per  urbem  percussorum  greges  et  multa 
milia  civium  Pomanorum  uno  loco  post  fidem,  immo 
per  ipsam  ^em  trucidata.  Yideant  ista  qui  exulare 
non  possunt. 8.  Quid  ergo?  felix  est  L.  Sulla,  quod  illi 
descendenti  ad  forum  gladio  submovetiir,  quod  capita 
sibi  coiisularium  virorum  patitur  ostendi  et  pretium 
eaedis  per  quaestorem  ac  tabulas  publicas  numerat  ?  et 
haec  omnia  facit  ille,  ille  qui  legem  Corneliam  tulit. 
Y eniamus  ad  Regulum  :  quid  illi  fortuna  nocuit,  quod 
ilium  documentum  fidei,  documentum  patientiae  fecit? 
Figunt  cutem  clavi  et  quocumque  fatigatum  corpus  re- 
cliuavit,  volneri  incumbit,  in  perpetuam  vigiliam  sus- 
pensa  sunt  lumina.  9.  Quanto  plus  tormenti  tanto 
plus  erit  gloriae.  Yis  scire  quam  non  poeniteat  hoc 
pretio  aestimasse  virtutem  ?  Relice  ilium  et  mitte  in  se- 
natum  :  eamdern  sententiam  dicet.  Feliciorem  ergo  tu 


56 


L.  ANNAEI  SENECAE 


Maeceiiatem  putas,  cui  amoribus  anxio  et  morosae  iixo- 
ris  cotidiaiia  repudia  defieiiti  soiunns  per  svmphonia- 
rnm  cantnm  ex  loDginqiio  lene  resonaiitiiim  quaeritiir? 
Mere  se  licet  sopiat  et  aquarum  fragoribus  avocet  et 
mile  voluptatibns  mentem  anxiam  fallat;  tain  vigilabit 
in  pliima  qnam  ille  in  cruce.  Sed  illi  solatium  est  pro 
honesto  .dura  tolerare  et  ad  caiisam  a  patientia  respicit: 
himc  Yoluptatibus  marcidum  et  felicitate  nimia  labo- 
rantem  magis  his  quae  patitur,  vexat  causa  patiendi. 
10.  Non  usque  eo  in  possessionem  generis  liumani  vitia 
venerunt,  ut  dubium  sit,  an  electione  fati  data  pi u res 
nasci  Reguli  quarn  Maecenates  velint.  Aut  si  quis 
fuerit,  qui  audeat  dicere  Maecenatem  se  quam  Regu- 
lum  nasci  maluisse ;  idem  iste,  taceat  licet,  nasci  se 
Terentiam  maluit.  Male  tractatum  Socratem  iudicas, 
quod  illam  potionem  publice  mixtam  non  aliter  quam 
medicamentum  inmortalitatis  obduxit  et  de  morte  dis- 
putavit  usque  ad  ipsam?  male  cum  illo  actum  est,  quod 
gelatus  est  sanguis  ac  paulatiin  frigore  inducto  vena- 
rum  vigor  constitit?  11.  Quanto  magis  huic  inviden- 
dum  est  quam  illis,  quibus  gemma  ministratur,  quibus 
exoletus  omnia  pati  doctus  exsectae  virilitatis  aut  du- 
biae  snspensara  auro  nivem  diluit?  Hi  quicquid  bibe- 
runt,  vomit u  remetientur  tristes  et  bilem  suam  re- 
gustantes;  at  ille  yenenum  laetus  et  libens  hauriet. 
Quod  ad  Catonem  pertiiiet,  satis  dictum  est  summam- 
que  illi  felicitatem  contigisse  consensus  hominum  fate- 
bitiir:  quern  sibi  rerum  natiira  delegit  cum  quo  metu- 
enda  colliderey  12.  Inimicitiae  potentium  graves  sunt? 
opponatur  siinul  Pompeio,  Caesari,  Crasso.  Gi-ave  est 
a  deterioribus  Iionore  anteii'i?  Yatinio  postferatnr. 
Grave  est  civilibus  bellis  interesse  ?  toto  terrarnm  orbe 


DE  PKOVIDENTIA.  CAP.  IV. 


57 


pro  causa  bona  tarn  infeliciter  quani  pertinaciter  inili- 
tet.  Grave  est  slbi  inanus  adferre?  faciat.  Quid  per 
haec  consequar?  ut  omiies  sciaut  non  esse  baec  mala, 
quibus  ego  dignum  Catonem  putavi. 

Prospera  in  plebem  ac  vilia  ingenia  deveni- 
unt :  at  calamitates  terroresque  mortalium.  sub  iugum 
mittere  proprium  maffiii  viri  est.  Semper  vero  esse 
felicem  et  sind  morsu  anirni  transire  vitam  ignorare  est 
rerum  naturae  alteram  partem.  Magnus  es  vir:  sed 
unde  scio,  si  tibi  fortima  non  dat  facidtatem  exhi- 
bendae  virtutis  ?  2.  Descendisti  ad  Olympia,  sed  nemo 
praeter  te :  coronam  babes,  victoriam  non  babes.  Mon 
gratulor  tamquam  viro  forti,  sed  tamquam  consulatum 
praeturamve  adepto :  bonore  auctiis  es.  Idem  dicere  et 
bono  viro  possum,  si  illi  nullam  occasionem  difficilior 
casus  dedit  in  qua  una  vim  sui  animi  ostenderet.  3. 
Miserum  te  iudico,  quod  numquam  fuisti  miser:  tran- 
sisti  sine  adversario  vitam.  Memo  sciet  quid  potueris : 
ne  tu  quidern  ipse.  Opus  est  eiiim  ad  notitiam  sui  ex- 
pdrimento :  quid  quisque  posset  nisi  temptando  non 
didicit.  Itaque  quidam  ipsi  ultro  se  cessantibus  malis 
obtulerunt  et  virtuti  iturae  in  obscurum  occasionem  per 
quam  enitesceret  quaesierunt.  4.  Gaudent,  inquain, 
magni  viri  aliquando  rebus  adversis,  non  aliter  quam 
fortes  milites  bellis  triumpbant.  Ego  murmillonem  sub 
Tiberio  Caesare  de  raritate  munerum  audivi  queren- 
tem  Quam  bella,  inquit,  aet as  peril  I  Avida  est  peri- 
culi  virtus  et  quo  tendat,  non  quid  passura  sit  cogitat : 
quoniam  etiam  quod  passura  est,  gloriae  pars  est.  Mili- 
tares  viri  gloriantur  volneribus,  laeti  fluentem  meliori 
casu  sanguinem  ostentant.  Idem  licet  fecerint  qui  iii- 
tegri  revertuntur  ex  acie,  magis  spectatur  qui  saucius 


58 


L.  ANNAEI  SENECAE 


redit.  5.  Ipsis,  inqnam,  deiis  consiilit,  quos  esse  quam 
lionestissimos  cupit,  quotiens  illis  materiam  praebet  ali- 
quid  animose  fortiterqiie  faciendi ;  ad  quam  rem  opus 
est  aliqua  rernni  difficultate.  Gubernatorem  in  tern- 
pestate,  in  acie  militem  intellegas.  Unde  possum  scire, 
quantum  adversus  paupertatem  tibi  animi  sit,  si  divitiis 
difiluis  ?  Unde  possum  scire,  quantum  adversus  igno- 
miniam  et  infamiam  odiumque  populare  constantiae 
habeas,  si  inter  plausus  senescis  ?  si  te  inexpugnabilis  et 
inclinatione  quadam  mentium  pronus  favor  sequitur? 
6.  Unde  scio,  quam  aequo  animo  laturus  sis  orbitatem, 
si  quoscumque  sustulisti,  vides  ?  Audivi  te,  cum  alios 
consQlai’ens  •  tunc  conspexissem,  si  te  ipse  consolatus 
esses,  si  te  ipse  dolere  vetuisses.  Nolite,  obsecro  vos,  ex- 
pavescere  ista,  quae  di  inrnortales  velut  stimulos  admo- 
vent  animis.  Calamitas  virtutis  occasio  est.  Illos  me- 
rito  quis  dixerit  miseros,qui  nimia  felicitate  torpescunt, 
quos  velut  in  mari  lento  tranquillitas  iners  detinet.  7. 
Quicquid  illis  inciderit,  novum  veniet:  magis  urgent 
saeva  inexpertos :  grave  est  terere  cervicibus  iugum. 
Ad  suspicionem  volneris  tiro  pallescit;  audacter  vete- 
ranus  cruorem  suum  spectat,  qui  scit  se  saepe  vicisse 
post  sanguinem.  Hos  itaque  deus  quos  probat,  quos 
amat,  indurat,  recognoscit,  exercet:  eos  autem  quibus 
indulgere  videtur,  quibus  parcere,  molles  venturis  mails 
servat.  Erratis  enim,  si  quern  iudicatis  exceptum :  ve¬ 
niet  ad  ilium  diu  felicem  sua  porti6r^8.  Quisquis  vide¬ 
tur  dimissus  esse,  dilatus  est.  Quare  deus  optimum 
quemque  aut  mala  valitudine  aut  luctu  aut  aliis  incom- 
modis  adiicit  Quia  in  castris  quoque  periculosa  fortis- 
simis  imperantur,  dux  lectissimos  mittit  qui  nocturnis 
liostes  adgrediantur  insidiis  aut  explorent  iter  aut  praC' 


DE  riiOVIUENTlA.  CAP.  IV. 


59 


sidiiiin  loco  deiciaiit.  N'eino  eorum  qiii  exeunt  dicit, 
Male  de  me  imperator  meruit ;  sed.  Bene  iudicavit. 
Idem  dicant  quiciimque  iubentur  pati  timidis  igna- 
A’isque  tlcbilia;  Digni  visi  sumus  deo  in  quibus  expe- 
riretur,  quantum  humana  natura  posset  pati.  Fugite 
delicias,  fugite  enervatam  felicitatenq  qua  animi  perma- 
descunt,  nisi  aliquid  intervenit  quod  liumanae  sortis  ad- 
moneat,  velut  perpetua  ebrietate  sopiti.  9.  Quern  specu- 
laria  semper  ab  addatu  Aundicaverunt,  cuius  pedes  inter 
f omenta  siibinde  mutata  tepuerunt,  cuius  coenationes 
subditus  et  parietibus  circumfusus  calor  temperavit, 
hunc  levis  aura  non  sine  periculo  stringet.  Cum  omnia 
quae  excesserunt  modum  noceant,  periculosissima  felici- 
tatis  internperantia  est.  Movet  cerebrum,  in  Aranas 
mentes  imagines  eyocat,  multum  inter  falsum  ac  verum 
mediae  caliginis  f  undit.  10.  Quidni  iis  satius  sit  perpe- 
tuam  infelicitatem  advocata  virtute  sustinere  quam  infi- 
nitis  atque  inmodicis  bonis  rumpi  ?  Lenior  ieiunio  mors 
est :  cruditate  dissiliunt.  Hanc  itaque  rationem  di  se- 
quuntur  in  bonis  viris,  quam  in  discipulis  suis  prae- 
ceptores ;  qni  plus  laboris  ab  iis  exigunt,  in  quibus 
certior  spes  est.  Numquid  tn  invisos  esse  Lacedaemo- 
niis  liberos  sues  credis,  quorum  experiuntur  indolem 

t 

pnblice  verberibus  admotis?  Ipsi  illos  patres  adhor- 
tantur,  ut  ictus  flagellorura  fortiter  perferant  et  lace- 
ros  ac  semianimes  rogant,  perse ve rent  volnera  praebere 
volneribns.  11.  Quid  mirum,  si  dure  generosos  spiritus 
deus  temptat  ?  numquam  virtutis  molle  documentum 
est.  Verberat  nos  et  lacerat  fortuna:  patimnr:  non  est 
saevitia,  certamen  est :  qiiod  si  saepiiis  adierimus,  for- 
tiores  erimus.  Solidissima  corporis  pars  est  quam  fre- 
quens  usus  agitavit.  Praebendi  fortunae  sumus,  ut 


CO 


L.  ANNAEI  SENECAE 


contra  illain  ab  ipsa  duremnr.  Paulatim  nos  sibi  pares 
facial:  contemptuin  periciiloriim  adsidiiitas  periclitandi 
dabit.  Sic  sunt  nauticis  corpora  a  ferendo  mari  dura; 
agricolis  manus  tritae ;  ad  excutienda  tela  militares 
lacerti  valent;  agilia  sunt  membra  cursoribus.  Id  in 
quoque  solidissimum  est  quod  exercuit.  12.  Ad  con- 
temnendam  malorum  potentiam  animus  patientia  perve- 
nit :  quae  quid  in  nobis  efiicere  possit  scies,  si  adspexe- 
I’is,  quantum  nationibus  nudis  et  inopiarfortioribus  labor 
praestet.  Omnes  considera  gentes,  in  quibus  Pomana 
pax  desinit,  Germanos  dico  et  quicquid  circa  Istrum 
vagarum  gentium  occursat.  Perpetua  illos  liiems,  triste 
coelum  premit,  maligne  solum  sterile  sustentat,  imbrem 
culmo  aut  fronde  defend unt,  super  durata  glacie  stagna 
persiiltant,  in  alimentum  feras  captant.  13.  Miseri  tibi 
videntur?  nihil  miserum  est  quod  in  naturam  consue- 
tudo  perduxit :  paulatim  enim  'Voluptati  sunt  quae 
necessitate  coeperunt.  Nulla  illis  domicilia  nullaeque 
sedes  sunt,  nisi  quas  lassitudb  in  diem  posuit:  vilis  et 
hie  quaerendus  manu  victu^,  horrenda  iniquitas  coeli, 
intecta  corpora :  hoc  quod  tibi  calamitas  videtur,  tot 
gentium  vita  est.  14.  Quid  miraris  bonos  viros,  ut  con- 
tirmentur,  concuti  ?  Non  est  arbor  solida  nec  fortis, 
nisi  in  quam  frequens  ventus  incursat:  ipsa  enim  vexa- 
tione  constringitur  et  radices  certius  figit.  Fi’agiles  sunt 
quae. in  aprica  valje  creyerunt.  Pro  ipsis  ergo  bonis 
viris  est,  iit  esse  interriti  possint,  multum  inter  forinido- 
losa  versari  et  aequo  ^imo  ferre  quae  non  sunt  mala 
nisi  male  sustiiienti.  ^ 

V.  Adice  nunc,  quod  pro  omnibus  est  optimum^ 
quemque,  ut  ita  dicam,  militare  et  edere  operas.  Hoc 
est  propositum  deo  quod  sapient!  viro,  ostendere  liaec 


DE  PKOVIDENTIA.  CAP.  V. 


G1 


quae  volgus  adpetit,  quae  reformidat,  iiec  bona  esse 
nec  mala:  adparebunt  aiitein  bona  esse,  si  ilia  non 
nisi  bonis  viris  tribuerit,  et  mala  esse,  si  tantum  ma- 
lis  inrogaverit.  Detestabilis  erit  caecita^,  si  nemo 
oculos  perdiderit,  nisi  cui  eruendi  sunt.  Itaque  ca- 
reant  luce  Appius  et  Metellus.  Non  sunt  divitiae 
bonum.  2.  Itaque  liabeat  illas  et  Elius  leno,  ut  ho¬ 
mines  pecuniam,  cum  in  tempi  is  consecraverint,  vi- 
deant  et  in  fornice.  Nullo  modo  magis  potest  deus 
concupita  traducere,  quam  si  ilia  ad  turpissimos  de- 
fert,  ab  optimis  abigit.  At  iniquum  est  virum  bo- 
fium  debilitari  aut  constringi  ant  adligari,  malos  inte- 
gris  corporibus.solutos  ac  delicatos  incedere.  3.  Quid 
poiTo  ?  non  est  iniquum  fortes  viros  ai-ma  suniere  et 
in  castris  pernoctare  et  pro  vallo  obligatis  stare  vol- 
neribus,  interim  in  urbe  secures  esse  praecisos  et 
professes  inpudicitiam  ?  Quid  porro  ?  non  est  ini¬ 
quum  nobilissimas  vii-gines  ad  sacra  facienda  nocti- 
bus  excitari,  altissimo  somno  inquinatas  frui  ?  Labor 
optimos  citat.  Senatus  per  totum  diem  saepe  consu* 
litur,  cum  illo  tempore  vilissimus  quisque  aut  in 
campo  otium  snum  oblectet  aut  in  popina  lateat  aut 
tempns  in  aliquo  circulo  terat.  Idem  in  hac  magna 
republica  fit :  boni  viri  laborant,  inpendunt,  inpen- 
duntur  et  volentes  quidem  ;  non  trahuntur  a  fortuna, 
sequuntur  illam  et  aequant  gradus :  si  scissent,  ante- 
cessissent.  4.  Ilanc  quoque  animosarn  Demetrii  for- 
tissimi  viri  vocem  audisse  me  memini :  Hoc  umim.^ 
inquit,  de  vohis^  di  ininortcdes^  qiieri  possum^  quod 
non  ante  inilii  voluntatem  'restrain  notam  fecistis. 
Prior  enim  ad  ista  venissem,  ad  qnae  nunc  voicitus 
admrn.  Vultis  liheros  sumere  f  vobis  illos  sustulL 


62 


L.  ANNAEI  SENECAE 


Vultis  aliquam  partem  corporis  f  sumite.  J^oii 
maqnam  rem  promitto  :  cito,  totum  relinquam. 
Vidtis  spiritwnf  Qiiidnif  millam  7mram  faciam.^ 
quo  minus  recipiatis  quod  dedistis  :  a  volente  fere- 
tis  quicquid  petieritis.  Quid  ergo  estf  maluissem 
offerre  quam  tradere.  Quid  opus  fuit  auferre  f 
accipere  p)otuistis.  Sed  ne  nuqw  quidem  auferetis^ 
quia  nihil  eripitur  nisi  ^^retinenti.  Nihil  cogor, 
nihil  patior  invitus  nec  servio  deo^  sed  adsentior  : 
eo  quidem  magis^  quod  scio  omnia  certa  et  in  ae- 
ternum  dicta  lege  decurrere.  5.  Fata  nos  diicunt  et 
quantum  cuique  temporis  restat,  prima  nascentium 
liora  disposuit.  Causa  pendet  ex  causa,  piivata  ac 
publica  longus  ordo  rerum  trahit.  Ideo  fortiter  omne 
paTiendum  est,  quia  non,  ut  putamus,  incidunt  ciincta, 
sed  veniunt.  Olim  constitutum  est  quid  gaudeas,  quid 
fleas  ;  et  quamvis  magna  videatur  varietate  singulorum" 
vitd  distingui,  surama  in  unum  venit :  accipimus  peri- 
tura  perituri.  6.  Quid  itaque  indignamur  %  quid  que- 
rimur  \  ad  hoc  parati  sumus.  Utatur  ut  vult  suis  na- 
tura  corporibus  :  nos  laeti  ad  omnia  et  fortes  cogite- 
mus  nihil  perire  de  nostro.  Quid  est  boni  viri  ?  prae- 
bere  se  fato.  Grande  solatium  est  cum  universo  rapi. 
Quicquid  est  quod  nos  sic  vivere,  sic  mori  iussit,  eadem 
necessitate  et  deos  adligat :  inrevocabili^  humana  pari- 
ter  ac  divina  cursii^  vehit.  file  ipse  omnium  condi- 
tor  et  rector  scripsit  quidem  fata,  sed  sequitur :  sem¬ 
per  paret,  semel  iussit.  7.  Quare  tamen  deus  tarn 
iiiiquus  ill  distributione  fati  fuit,  ut  bonis  viris  pau- 
])ertatem  et  ^volnera  et  acerba  funera  adscriberet  ? 
Non  potest  artifex  mutare  materiam  :  haec  passa  est. 
Quaedam  separari  a  quibusdam  non  possunt,cohaerent, 


DE  PROVIDENT! A.  CAP.  VI. 


63 


iiidividna  sunt.  Languida  ingenia  et  in  somnum  itura 

ant  in  vigiliam  soinno  siinilliniamgnertibus  nectiintur 

eleinentis  :  ut  efficiatur  vir  cum  cura  dicendus,  fortiore 

i  ■  .  .  .  ^ 

fato  opus  est.  Non  erit  illi  planum  iter  :  sursum  opor- 
tet  ac  deorsum  eat,  fluctuetur  ac  navigium  in  turbido 
regat :  contra  fortunam  illi  tenendus  est  cursus.  8. 
Multa  accident  dura,  aspera,  sed  quae  molliat  et  con- 
planet  ipse.  Ignis  aurum  probat,  miseria  fortes  viros. 
Yide  quam  alte  escendere  debeat  vdrtus :  scies  illi  non 
per  secura  vadendum  esse. 

Ardua  jprima  via  est  et  quam  vix  mane  recente^ 

_  I 

Enituntur  equi  ;  medio,  est  altissima,coelo, 

Unde  mare  et  terras  ipsi  milii  saepe  videre 
Sit  timor  et pavida  trepidet  formidine pectus. 
Ultima prona  via  est  et  eget  moderamine  certo  : 
Tunc  etiam  quae  me  subiectis  excipit  undis, 
Neferar  in  praeceps^  Tethys  solet  irna  vereri. 

9.  Haec  cum  audisset  ille  generosus  adulescens.  Pla¬ 
cet,  inquit,  via  :  escendo  :  est  tanti  per  ista  ire  casuro. 
Non  desinit  acrem  animum  metu  territare  : 

Utque  viam  teneas  mdloque  err  ore  traharis^ 

Per  tamen  adversi  gradieris  cornua  taiiri 
Haemoniosque  arcus  violentique  ora  leonis. 

Post  haec  ait,  lunge  datos  currus  :  his  quibus  de- 
terreri  me  putas,  incitor :  libet  illic  stare  ubi  ipse  Sol 
trepidat :  hurnilis  et  inertis  est  tuta  sectari :  per  alta 
virtus  it. 

VI..  Quare  tamen  bonis  viris  patitur  aliquid  mali 
dens  fieri  %  Ille  vero  non  patitur.  Omnia  mala  ab 
illis  removit,  scelera  et  flagitia  et  cogitationes  impro- 


04 


L.  ANNAEI  SENECAE 


bas  et  avida  consilia  et  libidinem  caecam  et  alieiio 
iiiiiiinentem  avaritiam  :  ipsos  tiietnr  ac  viiidicat. 
^snmquid  hoc  qnoqiie  aliqiii^  a  deo  exigit, 'nt  bono- 
riim  virorum  etiain  sarciiias  servet  ?  remit^jfuiit  i})si 
banc  deo  curam :  externa  contemimnt.  Democritus 
divitias  proiecit  onus  illas  bonae  mentis  existimans  : 
quid  ergo  miraris,  si  id  deus  bono  viro  accidere  pa- 
titur,  quod  vir  bonus  aliquando  vult  sibi  accidere  ? 
2.  Fil  ios  amittunt  viri  boni :  quidni,  cum  aliquando  et 
occidant  ?  In  exilium  inittuntur :  quidni,  cum  ali¬ 
quando  ipsi  patriam  non  repetituri  relinquant?  Oc- 
ciduntur:  quidni,  cum  aliquando  ipsi  sibi  manus  ad- 
ferant  ?  Quare  quaedam  dura  patiuntur  ?  ut  alios 
})ati  doceant :  nati  sunt  in  exemplar.  3.  Puta  itaque 
deum  dicere  :  Quid  habetis  quod  de  me  queri  possi- 
tis  VOS  quibus  recta  placuerunt  ?  Aliis  bona, falsa  cir- 
cumdjedi  et  animos  inanes  velut  longo  fallacique  som- 
nio^iusi :  auro  illos  et  aro'ento  et  ebore  adornavi  : 

O 

intus  boni  nihil  est.  Isti  quos  pi*o  felicibus  adspici- 
tls;  si  non  qua  occurrunt,  sed  qua  latent  videritis,  mi- 
seri  sunt,  sordidi,  turpes,  ad  similitudinem  parietum 
suorum  extrinsecus  culti.  Non  est  ista  solida  et  sin- 
cera  felicitas :  crusta  est  et  quidem  tenuis.  4.  Ita¬ 
que  dum  illis  licet  stare  et  ad  arbitrium  suum  ostendi, 
nitent  et  inponunt :  cum  aliquid  incidit  quod  disturbet 
ac  detegat,  tunc  adparet  quantum  altae  ac  verae  foedi- 
tatis  alienus' splendor  abs(;onderit.  Yobis  dedi  bona 
certa,  mansura,  quanto  magis  versaverit  aliquis  et  un- 
dique  inspexerit,  meliora  maioraque.  Permisi  vobis 
metuenda  contemnere,  cupiditates  fastidire  :  non  ful- 
getis  extrinsecus ;  bona  vestra  introrsus  obversa  sunt.  \ 
jSic  mundus  exteriora  contempsit  spectaculo  sui  laetus  r 


y. 


DE  PKOVIDENTIA.  CAP.  VI. 


65 


iiitiis  omiie  posiiit  bonum.  Non  egere  felicitate  fe- 
licitas  vestra  est.  5.  At  multa  incidunt  tristia,  lior- 
renda,  dura  toleratu.  Quia  non  poteram  vos  istis 
subdiicere,  aniinos  vestros  adversns  omnia  arinavi. 
Ferte  fortiter  :  hoc  est  ,  quo  deum  antecedatisv 
ill6  extra  patientiam  malorum  est,  vos  snpra  patien- 
tiam.  Contemnite  panpertatem :  nemo  tarn  pauper 
vivit  quam  natus  est.,  Contemnite  dolorem :  ant  sol- 
vetnr  ant  solvet.  Contemnite  mortem  :  quae  vos  ant 
finit  ant  transfert.  Contemnite  fortnnam :  nnllnm 
illi  teliim  quo  ferireF  animnm,  dedi.  6.  Ante  omnia 
cavi,  ne  qnis  vos  teneret  invitos :  patet  exitns.  Si 
pngnare  non  vnltis,  licet  fngere.  Ideo  ex  omnibus 
rebns  qnas  esse  vobis  necessarias  volni,  nihil  feci  fa- 
cilius  quam  mori.  Prono  animam  loco  posni ;  tra"-' 
hitur.  Adtendite  modo  et  videbitis  quam  brevis  ad 
libertatem  et  quam  expedita  ducat  via.  Non  tarn 
longas  in  exitu  vobis  qnam  intrantibns  moras  posni : 
alioqnin  magnum  in  vos  regnnrn  fortune  tennisset,  si 
homo  tarn  tarde  moreretnr  qnam  nascitnr.  7.  Omne 
tempus,  omnis  vos  locus  doceat,  qnam  facile  sit  re- 
nnntiare  naturae  et  mnnns  illi  sunm  inpingere.  Inter 
ipsa  altaria  et  sollemnes  sacrificantium  ritus,  dnm 
optatnr  vita,  mortem  condiscite. '  Corpora  opima 
tanrornm  exigno  concidnnt  volnere  et  magnarnra 
virinm  animalia  hnmanae  manus  ictus  inpellit :  tenni 
ferro  commissnra  cervicis  abrnrnpitnr,  et  cum  arti- 
cnlus  ille  qni  caput  collumque  committit  incisus  est, 
tanta  ilia  moles  corruit.  8.  Non  in  alto  latet  spiritus 
nec  utique  ferro  eruendus  est :  non  sunt  volnere  peni- 
tus  inpresso  scrutanda  praecordia :  in  proximo  mors 
est.  Non  certum  ad  hos  ictus  aestimavi  locum ;  qua- 


66  L.  ANNAEI  SENECAE  DE  PROYIDENTIA,  CAP.  VI.  - . 

cumque  via  pervium  est.  Ipsiiin  illnd  quod  vocatur 
mori,  quo  auiraa  discedit  a  corpore,  brevius  est,  qnain 
lit  sentiri  tanta  velocitas  possit.  Sive  fauces  nodus 
elisit,  sive  spirameiitum  aqua  praeclusit,  sive  in  caput 
lapsos  subiacentis  soli  diiritia  conmiuuit,  sive  baustus 
ignis  cursum  animae  remeantis  interscidit :  quicquid 
est,  properat.  Ecquid  erubescitis?  quod  tarn  cito  fit, 
timetis'  diu  ? 

t 


Genius  of  the  Roman  People.  From  a  coin  of  Antoninus  Pius,  in  the 

British  Museum. 


L.  ANNAEI  SENECAE 

AD  SERENUM 

DE  TRANQUILLITATE  ANIMI 

/ 

LIBER  UNUS! 


In  ipsa  eloquentia,  Seneca,  duae  time  virtutes  eximiae ;  copia  in 
brevitate,  vehementia  in  facilitate.  De  copia,  bonus  index  et  sagax 
statim  agnoscit,  et  Fabius  (Quintil.)  ut  peculiavem  virtutem  etiam 
alibi  adsignat.  .  .  .  At  de  vehementia  ego  eius  miror:  et  est  tota 
oratio  fere  accincta,  intenta,  et  robur  in  ea  et  acrimonia,  qua  vel  ad 
Demosthenem  se  iactet.  .  .  .  ludica  sic,  bone  Lector,  et  bono  tuo 
Senecam  araa.  Lipsius. 


AD  SERENUM 


DE  TRANQUILLITATE  ANIMI. 


I.  Inquieenti  mihi  in  me  qnaedam  vitia  adpare- 
bant,  Seneca,  in  aperto  posita  quae  manii  prenderem, 
qnaedam  obscuriora  et  in  recessu,  qnaedam  non  con- 
tinna,  sed  ex  intervallis  redenntia ;  quae  vel  molestis- 
sima  dixerim,  nt  liostes  vagos  et  ex  occasionibus  adsi- 
lientes,  per  qnos  neutrum  licet,  nec  tamquam  in  bello 
paratnm  esse  nec  tamquam  in  pace  securum.  Ilium 
tainen  habitum  in  me  maxime  deprendo  (quare  enim 
non  verum  ut  medico  fatear  ?)  nec  bona  fide  libera- 
tum  eis,  quae  timebam  et  oderam,  nec  rursus  obnox- 
ium.  2.  In  statu  iit  non  pessirao,  ita  maxime  que- 
rulo  et  moroso  positus  sum :  nec  aegroto  nec  valeo. 
[N^on  est,  quod  dicas  omnium  virtutum  tenera  esse 
principia,  tempore  illis  duramenturn  et  robur  acce- 
dere.  Non  ignoro  etiam  quae  in  speciem  laboraut, 
dignitatem  dieo  et  eloquentiae  famam  et  quicquid 
ad  alienum  sulfragium  venit,  mora  convalescere :  et 
quae  veras  vires  parant  et  quae  ad  placendura  fuco 
quodam  subornantur,  exspectant  annos,  donee  paula- 
tiin  colorem  diuturnitas  ducat:  sed  ego  vereor,  ne 
consuetudo,  quae  rebus  adfert  constantiam,  hoc  vi- 
tiurn  mihi  altius  hgat.  3.  Tam  malorum  quam  bo- 

D 


70 


L.  ANNAEI  SENECAE 


iiorum  loiiga  coiiversatio  amorem  induit.  Ilaec  aiii- 
ini  inter  iitramqne  dubii  nec  ad  recta  fortiter  nee  ad 
prava  vergentis  infirmitas  qiialis  sit,  non  tain  seniel 
tibi  poss^um  qiiain  per  partes  ostendere.^  Dicam  qnae 
drccidant  mihi :  t^  inorbo  nomen^'invenies.  Tenet  me 
summus  amor  par^mcmme,  fateor :  placet  non  in  am- 
bitionem  cubile  conpositiim,  non  ex  arcnla  prolata 
vestis,  non  ponderibus  ac  mille  tormentis  splendere 
cogentibus  expressa,  sed  domestica  et  vilis,  nec  serva- 
ta  nec  sumenda  sollicite.  4.  Placet  cibns,  quern  nec 
parent  familiae  nec  spectent,  non  ante  mnltos  impe- 

ratus  dies  nec  multorum  manibus  ministratus,  sed 

o/.  .  ^  ^  .  . 

parabilis  facilisque,  nihil  habens  arcessiti  pretiosixe, 
ubilibet  non  defuturus,  nec  patrimonio  nec  corpori 
gravis,  non  rediturus  qua  intraverit.  Placet  minister 
incultus  et  rudis  vernula,  argentum  grave  rustici  patris 
sine  ullo  nomine  artificis,  et  mensa  non  varietate  ma- 
cularum  conspicua  nec  per  multas  dominorum  ele- 
gantium  successiones  civitati  nota,  sed  in  usum  po- 
sita,  quae  nullins  convivae  oculos  nec  voluptate  more- 
tur  nec  accendat  invidia.  5.  Cum  bene  ista  placue- 
runt,  praestringit  aniinum  adparatus  alicuius  paeda- 
gogii,  diligentius  quam  in  tralatu  vestita  et  auro 
ciilta  mancipia  et  agmen  servorurn  nitentium :  iam 
domus  etiam  qua.  calcatur  pretiosa  et  divitiis  per 
omnes  angulos  dissipatis,  tecta  ipsa  fulgentia  et  ad- 
sectator  comesque  patrimoniorum  perenntium  popu- 
lus.  Quid  perluceutis  ad  imum  aquas  et  circumflu- 
entes  ipsa  con vi via,  quid  epulas  loquar  scena  sua 
dignas  ^  6.  Circumfudit  me  ex  longo  frugalitatis  situ 
venientern  multo-splendore  luxuria  et  undique  circum- 
sonuit.  Paulum  titubat  acies  :  facilius  adversus  illarn 


DE  TRANQUILLITATE  ANIMI.  CAP.  I. 


71 


aiiimum  qnam  ociilos  adtollo.  Recede  itaqiie  non 
peior,  sed  tristior ;  nec  inter  ilia  frivola  inea  tain  altus 
iiicedo  taeitusque  morsns  snbit  et  dubitatio,  numqnid 
ilia  meliora  sint :  nihil  horiim  me  mutat,  nihil  taraen 
non  concutit.  Placet  vim  praeceptorum  sequi  et  in 
median!  ire  rempublicam  :  placet  honores  fascesque 
non  scilicet  pui’pura  aiit  virgis  adductum  capessere, 
sed  lit  amicis  propinquisqiie  et  omnibus  civibns,  omni¬ 
bus  deinde  mortalibus  paratior  ntiliorque  sim.  7. 
Pi’omptus,  coupositns  seqiior  Zenona,  Cleanthen,  Chry- 
sippiim ;  quorum  tamen  nemo  ad  rempublicam  acces- 
sit  et  nemo  non  misit.  Ubi  aliquid  animam  insolitam 
arietari  percussit,  ubi  aliquid  occurrit  aiit  indigniim, 
ut  in  Omni  vita  hiimana  multa  sunt,  aut  pariim  ex 
facili  Aliens,  aut  miiltum  temporis  res  non  magno  ae- 
stimandae  poposcerunt,  ad  otium  convertor  et  quem- 
admodiim  pecoribus  fatigatis  quoque  velocior  do- 
mum  grad  us  est,  placet  intra  parietes  siios  vitam  co- 
ercere.  ^8.  Remo  ullnm  auferat  diem  nihil  digniim 
tanto  inpendio  redditiiriis  :  sibi  ipse  animus  haereat, 
se  colat,  nihil  alien!  agat,  nihil  quod  ad  iiidicem 
spectet :  ametnr  expers  publicae  privataeque  curae 
tranquillitas.  Sed  ubi  lectio  fortior  erexit  animura 
et  acul^eos  siibdiderunt  exempla  nobilia,  prosilire  libet 
in  forum,  commodare  alteri  vocem,  alter!  operam, 
etiam  si  nihil  profuturam,  tamen  conatiiram  prodesse, 
alicuius  coercere  in  foro  siiperbiam  male  secundis  re¬ 
bus  elati.  9.  In  studiis  puto  mehercules  melius  esse 
res  ipsas  intueri  et  harum  causa  loqiii,  ceterum  verba 
rebus  permittere,  ut  qua  duxeriut  hac  inelaborata  se- 
quatur  oratio.  Quid  opus  est  seculis  diiratura  con- 
ponere  ?  Vis  tu  non  id  agere,  ne  te  [losteri  taceant  ? 


72 


L.  ANNAEI  SENECAE 


iriorti  natns  es :  minus  molestiarum  liabet  fiinus  ta¬ 
citurn  :  itaque  occupandi  temporis  causa,  in  usum 
tuuin,  non  in  praeconium  aliquid  siinplici  stilo  scribe: 
ininore  labore  opus  est  studentibus  in  diem.  10.  Kur- 
sus  ubi  se  animus  cogitationurn  magnitudine  levavit, 
ambitiosus  in  verba  est  altiusque  ut  sperare  ita  elo- 
qui  gestit  et  ad  dignitatem  rerum  exit  oratio  :\\)blitus 
turn  legis  pressiorisque  iudicii  sublimius  feror  et  ore 
iain  non  meo.  Ne  singula  diutius  persequar,  in  omni¬ 
bus  rebus  liaec  me  sequitur  bonae  mentis  infirmitas : 
ctii  ne  paulatim  deflu  am  vereor,  ant  quod  est  sollici- 
tius,  ne  semper  casui’o  similis  pendeam  et  plus  for- 
tasse  sit  quain  quod  ipse  pervideo.  Fainiliariter  enim 
domestica  adspicimus  et  semper  iudicio  favor  oflicit. 
11.  Puto  multos  potuisse  ad  sapientiam  pervenire,- 
nisi  putassent  se  pervenisse,  nisi  quaedam  in  se  dissi- 
mulassent,  quaedam  opertis  oculis  transsiluissent.  Kon 
est  enim,  quod  magis  aliena  indices  adulatione  nos  pe- 
rii-e  quain  nostra.  Quis  sibi  verum  dicei'e  ausus  est  ? 
quis  non  inter  laudantium  blandientiumque  positus 
gi’eges  plui’imum  tainen  sibi  ipse  adsentatus  est?  12. 
Kogo  itaque,  si  quod  babes  remedium  quo  banc  fluctu- 
ationem  meam  dignum  me  putes,  qui  tibi  ti’an- 

quillitatem  debeani'.  I7on  esse  periculosos  motus  ani- 
mi  nec  quicquain  tumultuosi  adferentis  scio  :  ut  vera 
tibi  similitudine  id,  de  quo  queror,  exprimam,  non 
tempestate  vexor,  sed  naiisia.  Detrabe  ergo,  quic- 
quid  boc  est  mali,  et  succurre  in  conspectu  terrarum 
laboi-anti. 

II.  Quaero  mehercules  iam  dudum.  Serene,  ipse 
tacitus,  cui  talein  adfectuni  aniini  similem  putein  ;  nec 
ulli  propius  admoverim  exeinplo  quain  eoruin,  qui  ex 


73 


DE  TRANQUILLITATE  ANIMI.  CAP.  II. 

JC  ■ 

longa  et  gravi  valitndine  explicit!  motiunculis  levi- 
busque  interim  offensis  perstringiintur  et,  cum  re- 
liquias  effngerunt,  suspicionibus  tamen  inquietantur 
medicisque  *iam  sani  manurn  porrigunt  et  omnem 
calorem  corporis  sui  calumniantur.  Horum,  Serene, 
non  parum  sanum  est  corpus,  sed  sanitati  parum  ad- 
suevit:  sicut  est  quidam  tremor  etiam  tranquilli  rna- 
ris,  utque  lacus,  cum  ex  tempestate  requievit.  2.  Opus 
est  itaque  non  illis  durioribus,  quae  etiam  transcucurri- 
inus,  ut  alicubi  obstes  tibi,  alicubi  irascaris,  alicubi  in- 
stes  gravis  :  sed  illud,  quod  ultimum  venit,  ut  fidenr 
tibi  habeas  et  recta  ire  te  via  credas,  nihil  avocatus 
transversis  multorum  vestigiis  passim  discurrentium, 
quorumdam  circa  ipsam  errantium  viam.  3.  Quod 
desideras  autem,  magnum  et  summum  est  deoque  vi- 
cinum,  non  concuti.  Hanc  stabilem  animi  sedem 
Graeci  iv^viu'iav  vocant,  de  qua  Dernocriti  volumen 
egregium  est :  ego  tranqiiillitatem  voco :  nec  enim 
imitari  et  transferre  verba  ad  illorum  formam  necesse 
est :  res  ipsa,  de  qua  agitiir,  aliquo  signanda  nomine 
est,  quod  adpellationis  Graecae  vim  debet  habere,  non 
faciem.  4.  Ergo  quaerimus,  qiiomodo  animus  sem¬ 
per  aequalis  secundoque  cursu  eat  propitiusque  sibi 
sit  et  sua  laetus  adspiciat  et  hoc  gaudium  non  inter- 
rumpat,  sed  placido  statu  maneat  nec  adtollens  se  um- 
qiiam  nec  deprimens.  Id  tranquillitas  erit.  Qiio¬ 
modo  ad  hanc  perveniri  possit,  in  universurn  quae- 
ramus  :  sumes  tu  ex  publico  remedio  quantum  voles. 
Totum  interim  vitium  in  medium  protrahendum  est ; 
ex  quo  agnoscet  quisque  partem  suam  :  simul  tu  in- 
telleges,  quanto  minus  negotii  habeas  cum  fastidio 
tui  quam  hi,  quos  ad  professionem  speciosam  adliga- 


74 


L.  ANNAEI  SENECAE 


tos  et  sub  ingenti  titulo  laborantis  in  sna  simiilatione 
pudor  magis  qiiarn  voluntas  tenet.  6.  Omnes  in  ea- 
dem  causa  sunt,  et  hi  qui  levitate  vexantur  ac  taedio 
adsiduaque  mutatione  propositi,  quibus  semper  magis 
placet  quod  reliquerunt,  et  illi,  qui  marcent  et  osci- 
tantur.  Adice  eos,  qui  non  aliter  quam  quibus  diffi- 
cilis  somnus  est,  versant  se  et  hoc  atque  illo  modo 
conponunt,  donee  quietem  lassitudine  inveniant :  sta- 
tum  vitae  suae  formando  subinde  in  eo  novissime  ma- 
nent,  in  quo  illos  non  mutandi  odium,  sed  senectus  ad 
novandum  pigra  deprendit.  Adice  et  illos,  qui  non 
inconstantiae  vitio  parum  leves  sunt,  sed  inertiae.  •  Yi- 
vunt  non  quomodo  volunt,  sed  quomodo  coeperunt. 
Innumerabiles  deinceps  proprietates  sunt,  sed  unus 
effectus  vitii,  sibi  displicere.  6.  Hoc  oritur  ab  intem- 
perie  animi  et  cupiditatibus  timidis  aut  parum  pros^ 
peris ;  ubi  aut  non  audent,  quantum  concupiscunt, 
aut  non  consequuntur  et  in  spem  toti  prominent,  sem- 
per  instabiles  mobilesque  sunt,  quod  necesse  est  acci- 
dere  pendentibus  ad  vota  sua :  omni  vita  pendent  et 
inhonesta  se  ac  difficilia  docent  coguntque  ;  et  ubi 
sine  praemio  labor  est,  torquet  illos  inritum  dedecus, 
nec  dolent  prava,  sed  frustra  voluisse.  7.  Tunc  illos 
et  poenitentia  coepti  tenet  et  incipiendi  timer  subre- 
pitque  ilia  animi  iactatio  non  invenientis  exitum,  quia 
nec  imperare  cupiditatibus  suis  nec  obsequi  possunt, 
et  cunctatio  vitae  parum  se  explicantis  et  inter  desti- 
tuta  vota  torpentis  animi  situs.  Quae  omnia  graviora 
sunt,  ubi  odio  infelicitatis  operosae  ad  otium  perfu- 
gerunt  et  ad  secreta  studia,  quae  pati  non  potest  ani¬ 
mus  ad  civilia  erectus  agendique  cupidus  et  natura 
in  quietus,  parum  silicet  in  se  solatiorum  habens :  ideo 


DE  TRANQUILLITATE  ANIMI.  CAP.  II. 


75 


detractis  oblectationibiis,  qiias  ipsae  occiipationes  dis- 
cuiTentibns  praebent,  domnm,  solitiidinem,  parietes  non 
fert,  invitiis  adspicit  se  sibi  relictiim.  8.  Hinc  illud 
est  taedium  et  displicentia  sui  et  niisqiiam  residentis 
animi  volutatio  et  otii  sui  tristis  atque  aegra  patientia ; 
iitiqne  ubi  causas  fateri  pudet  et  tormenta  introrsus 
egit  verecundia,  in  angusto  incliisae  cnpiditates  sine 
exitu  se  ipsae  strangulant.  Inde  moeror  niarcorque 
et  mille  fluctus  mentis  incertae,  quam  spes  inchoatae 
liabent  suspensain,  deploratam,  tristem :  inde  ille  ad- 
fectus  otium  siium  detestantiiim  querentiuraque  nihil 
ipsos  habere  quod  agant,  et  alienis  incrementis  iniini- 
cissima  invidia.  9.  Alit  enim  livorem  infelix  inertia 
et  omnes  destrui  cnpiunt,  quia  se  non  potuere  prove- 
here  :  ex  hac  deinde  aversatione  alien orum  processu- 
um  et  suorum  desperatione  obirascens  fortunae  ani¬ 
mus  et  de  seculo  querens  et  in  angulos  se  retrahens 
et  poenae  incubans  suae,  dum  ilium  taedet  sui  piget- 
que.  Natura  enim  humanus  animus  agilis  est  et  pro- 
nus  ad  motus  :  grata  omnis  illi  excitandi  se  abstra- 
liendique  materia  est,  gratior  pessirnis  quibnsqiie  in- 
geniis,  quae  occupationibus  libenter  deteruntur.  10. 
Ut  ulcera  quaedam  nocituras  manus  adpetunt  et  tactu 
gandent  et  foedam  corporum  scabiem  delectat  quic- 
quid  exasperat :  non  aliter  dixerim  his  mentibns,  in 
quas  cnpiditates  velut  mala  ulcera  ernperiint,  voluptati 
esse  laborem  vexationemque.  Sunt  enim  quaedam, 
quae  corpus  quoque  nostrum  cum  quodam  dolore  de- 
lectent,  ut  versare  se  et  rnutare  nondum  fessum  latus, 
et  alio  atque  alio  positu  ventilari.  11.  Qualis  ille 
Ilomericus  Achilles  est,  modo  pronus,  modo  supinus, 
in  varies  habitus  se  ipse  conponens,  quod  proprium 


76 


L.  ANNAEI  SENECAE 


aegri  est,  nihil  diu  pati  et  mutationibns  ut  remediis 
nti.  Inde  peregrinationes  siiscipiuntiir  vagae  et  litora 
pererrantur  et  modo  mari  se,  mode  terra  experitur 
semper  praesentibus  infesta  levitas.  Nunc  Campani- 
am  petamus :  iam  delicata  fastidio  sunt :  inculta  vi- 
deantur.  Bruttios  et  Lucaniae  saltus  persequamur  : 
aliquid  tamen  inter  deserta  amoeni  requiratur,  in  quo 
liixuriosi  oculi  longo  locorum  horrentium  squalore 
releventur.  12.  Tarentum  petatur  laudatusque  por- 
tus  et  hiberna  coeli  mitioris,  regio  vel  antiquae  satis 
opulenta  turbae.  Iam  flectamus  cursum  ad  urbem  : 
nimis  diu  a  plausu  et  fragore  aures  vacaverunt  ; 
iuvat  iam  et  hurnano  sanguine  frui.  Aliud  ex  alio 
iter  suscipitur  et  spectacula  spectaculis  mutantur,  ut 
ait  Lucretius, 

Hoc  se  quisqtie  modo  semper  fugit. 

13.  Sed  quid  prodest,  si  non  effngit  ?  sequitur  se  ipse 
et  urget  gravissimus  comes.  Itaque  scire  debemus 
non  locorum  vitium  esse  quo  laboramus,  sed  nostrum. 
Infirmi  sumus  ad  omne  tolerandum,  nec  laboris  pati- 
entes  nec  voluptatis,  nec  nostrae  nec  ullius  rei  diutius. 
Hoc  quosdam  egit  ad  mortem,  quod  proposita  saepe 
mutando  in  eadem  revolvebantur  et  non  reliquerant 
novitati  locum.  Fastidio  esse  illis  coepit  vita  et  ipse 
mundus ;  et  subit  illud  rabidarum  deliciarum,  Quous- 
que  eadem  f  '• 

III.  Ad  versus  hoc  taedium  quo  auxilio  putem  uten- 
dum  quaeris.  Optimum  erat,  ut  ait  Atlienodorus,  ac- 
tione  rerum  et  reipublicae  tractatione  et  officiis  civi- 
libus  se  detinere :  nam  ut  quidam  sole  atque  exercita- 
tione  et  cura  corporis  diem  ducunt  athletisque  louge 


DE  TRANQUILLITATE  ANIMI.  CAP.  III. 


77 


ntilissimiim  est  lacertos  sues  roburqiie,  cui  se  uni  dica- 
verunt,  maiore  teraporis  parte  nutrire :  ita  nobis  ani- 
mura  ad  reruni  civilium  certamen  parantibus  in  opere 
esse  non  longe  pulcberrimum  est  ?  nain  cum  utilem  se 
efficere  civibus  mortalibusque  propositum  babeat,  simul 
et  exercetur  et  prolicit,  qui  in  mediis  se  officiis  posuit 
communia  privataque  pro  facultate  adrninistrans.  2. 
Sed  quia  in  liac,  inquit,  tarn  insana  liominum  ambitione 
tot  calumuiatoribus  in  deterins  recta  torquentibus  pa- 
rum  tuta  simplicitas  est  et  plus  futurum  semper  est, 
quod  obstet  quam  quod  succedat,  a  foro  quidem  et  pub¬ 
lico  recedendum  est ;  sed  liabet,  ubi  se  etiam  in  private 
laxe  explicet  magiius  animus :  nec  ut  leonum  animali- 
umque  inpetus  caveis  coercetur,  sic  hominum,  quorum 
maxime  in  seducto  actiones  sunt.  3.  Ita  tamen  deli- 
tuerit,  ut  ubicurnque  otium  suum  absconderit,  prodesse 
velit  singulis  universisque  ingenio,  voce,  consilio.  Hec 
enim  i^^solus  reipublicae  prodest,  qui  candidates  extra¬ 
hit  et  liietur  reos  et  de  pace  belloque  censet,  sed  qui 
iuventutem  exhortatur,  qui  in  tanta  bonorum  praecep- 
torum  inopia  virtu te  instituit  animos,  qui  ad  pecuniam 
luxuriamque  cursu  mentis  prensat  ac  retrabit  et,  si 
nihil  aliud, --certe  moratur,  in  private  publicum  nego- 
tium  agit. -^v  4.  An  ille^plus  praestat,  qui  inter  peregri¬ 
nes  et  cives  aiit  urban  us  praetor  adeuntibus  adsessoris 
verba  pronuntiat,  quam  qui  quid  sit  iustitia,  quid  pietas, 
quid  patientia,  quid  fortitude,  quid  mortis  contemptus, 
quid  deorum  intellectus,  quam  gratuitum  bonum  sit 
bona  conscientia?  Ergo  si  tempus  in  studia  conferas, 
quod  subduxeris  officiis,  non  deserueris  nec  muims  de- 
tfectavefis.  5.  Heque  enim  ille  solus  militat,  qui  in 
acie  stat  et  cornu  dextrum  laevumque  defendit,  sed  qui 

D  2 


78 


L.  ANNAET  SENECAE 


portas  tiietiir  et  statione  miinis  periculosa,  non  otiosa 
tainen  fungitur  vigiliasqne  servat  et  armamentario  prae- 
est :  quae  miiiisteria  quamvis  incrueiita  siiit,  in  nurae- 
rura  stipendiorum  veniunt.  Si  te  ad  stadia  revocaveris, 
oinne  vitae  fastidium  effugeris  nee  noctem  fieri  optabis 
taedio  lucis,  nec  tibi  gravis  eris  nec  aliis  supervacuus : 
inultos  in  amicitiam  adtrabes  adfiuetqne  ad  te  optimus 
quisque.  6.  ]N"iiinquam  enini  quamvis  obscura  virtus 
latet,  sed  mittit  sui  signa  :  qiiisquis  dignus  fuerit,  vesti- 
giis  illani  coiliget.  Nam  si  omnem  conversationem 
tollimus  et  generi  humano  renuntiamns  vivimusque  in 
nos  tantum,  conversi,  sequetur  lianc  solitudinem  omni 
studio  carentem  inopia  rerum  agendarum.  Incipiemus 
aedificia  alia  ponere,  alia  subvertere  et  mare  submovere 
et  aquas  contra  difiicultatem  locornm  edncere  et  male 
dispen^fe  tempus,  quod  nobis  natura  consumendum 
dedit.  ^7.  Alii  parce  illo  utimur,  alii  prodige :  alii  sic 
inpendimus,  ut  possimus  rationem  reddere,  alii,  ut  nul- 
las  liabeamus  reliquias;  qua  re  nihil  turpius  est.  Saepe 
grandis  natu  senex  nullum  aliud  habet  argumentum, 
quo  se  probet  din  vixisse,  praeter  aetatem.  Milii,  caris- 
sime  Serene,  nimis  videtur  submisisse  temporibus  se 
Atlienodorus,  nimis  cito  refugisse.  Ne  ego  negaverim 
aliquando  cedendum;  sed  sensim  relate  gradu  et  salvis 
signis,  salva  militari  dignitate.  Sanctiores  tutioresquc 
sunt  liostibus  suis,  qui  in  fidem  cum  armis  veniunt.  8. 
Hoc  puto  virtuti  faciendum  studiosoque  virtutis.  Si 
praevalebit  fortuna  et  praecidet  agendi  facultatem, 
non  statim  aversus  inermisque  fugiat  latebras  quae- 
rens,  quasi  ullus  locus  sit  in  quo  non  possit  fortuna 
persequi,  sed  parcius  se  inferat  officiis  et  cum  delcctu 
inveniat  aliquid,  in  quo  utilis  civitati  sit.  Militare  non 


DE  TRANQUILLITATE  ANIMT.  CAP.  III. 


79 


licet?  honores  spectet :  private  vivendum  est ?  sit  orator: 
silentiuin  indictura  est?  tacita  advocatione  cives  iuvet; 
periculosuin  etiam  ingressu  forum  est?  in  domibus,  in 
spectaculis,  in  conviviis  bonum  contubernalem,  tidelem 
amicum,  temperantem  convivam  agat.  9.  Officia  si  ci- 
vis  amiserit,  hominis  exerceat.  Ideo  magno  animo  nos 
non  imius  urbis  moenibus  clusimns,  sed  in  totius  orbis 
commercium  emisimus  patriamque  nobis  miinduin  pro¬ 
fess!  snmus,  lit  liceret  latiorem  virtuti  cainpnm  dare. 
Praeclusiim  tibi  tribunal  est  et  rostris  prohiberis  aut 
comitiis  ?  respice  post  te  quantum  latissimarum  regio- 
num  pateat,  quantum  populorum :  numquam  ita  tibi 
magna  pars  obstruetur,  lit  non  maior  relinquatur.  10. 
Sed  vide,  ne  totiim  istud  tuum  vitium  sit :  non  vis  enim 
nisi  consul  aut  pry  tan  is  aut  ceryx  aut  sufes  administrare 
rempublicam.  Quid  si  militare  nolis  nisi  imperator  aut 
tribiinus?  etiam  si  alii  primarn  frontem  tenebunt,  te  sors 
inter  triarios  posuerit;  inde  voce,  adhortatione,exemplo, 
animo  milita.  Praecisis  quoque  manibiis  ille  in  proelio 
invenit,  quod  partibiis  conferat,  qui  stat  tarnen  et  cla- 
more  iuvat.  Tale  quiddam  facias :  si  a  prima  te  reipiib- 
licae  parte  fortuna  submoverit,  stes  tamen  et  clamore 
iuves  et,  si  quis  fauces  oppresserit,  stes  tamen  et  silentio 
iuves.  11.  Numquam  inutilis  est  opera  civis  boni : 
auditus  eiiis  visusque  voltii,  nutu,  obstinatione  tacita 
incessuque  ipso  prodest.  lit  salutaria,  quae  citra-gus- 
tum  tactumque  odore  proficiunt,  ita  virtiis  utilitatem 


etiam  ex  longinquo  et  latens  fundit,  sive  spatiatur  et 
se  utitur  suo  iure,  sive  precarios  liabet  'exc^Sus"  Pogi- 
tnrque  vela  contrahere,  sive  otiosa  mutaque'  est  et  an- 
gusto  circumsepta,  sive  adaperta:  in  quociimqiie  habitu 
est,  prodest.  Quid?  tu  parum  utile  putas  exempfum 


80 


L.  ANNA  El  SENECAE 


bene  quiescentis  ?  12.  Longe  itaque  optimum  est  mis- 

cere  otinm  rebus,  quotiens  actuosa  vita  inpedi  mentis 
fortuitis  aut  civitatis  condieione  proliibetur.  Num- 
quam  eiiim  usque  eo  interclusa  sunt  omnia,  ut  nulli 
actioni  locus  lionestae  sit.  Numquid  potes  invenire 
urbem  miseriorem  quam  Atheniensium  fuit,  cum  illam 
triginta  tjranni  divellerent?  mille  trecentos  cives,  op¬ 
timum  quemque  occiderant  nec  finem  ideo  faciebant, 
sed  inritabat  se  ipsa  saevitia.  13.  In  qua  civitate  erat 
Areos  pagos,  religiosissimum  iudicium,  in  qua  senatus 
populusque  senatu  similis  coibat  cotidie  carnificum 
triste  collegium  et  infelix  curia  tjrannis  angusta.  Po- 
teratne  ilia  civitas  conquiescere,  in  qua  tot  tyranni 
erant  quot  satellites  essent?  He  spes  quidem  ulla  re- 
cipiendae  libertatis  animis  poterat  offerri ;  nec  nlli 
remedio  locus  adparebat  contra  tantam  vim  malorum : 
unde  enim  miserae  civitati  tot  Harmodios?  14.  Soc¬ 
rates  tamen  in  medio  erat  et  lugentes  patres  consola- 
batur  et  desperantes  de  republica  exhortabatur  et  divi- 
tibus  opes  suas  metuentibus  exprobrabat  seram  pericu- 
losae  avaritiae  poenitentiam  et  irnitari  volentibus  mag¬ 
num  circumferebat  exemplar,  cum  inter  triginta  do¬ 
minos  liber  incederet.  Hunc  tamen  Athenae  ipsae  in 
carcere  occiderunt;  et  qui  tuto  insultaverat  agmini 
tyrannorum  eius  libertatem  libertas  non  tulit :  ut  scias 
et  in  adflicta  republica  esse  occasionem  sapienti  viro 
ad  se  proferendum  et  in  florenti  ac  beata  pecuniam, 
invidiam,  mille  alia  inermia  vitia  regnare.  15.  Ut- 
cumque  ergo  se  respublica  dabit,  utcumque  fortuna 
permittet,  ita  aut  explicabimus  nos  aut  contraliemus : 
utique  movebimus  nec  adligati  metu  torpebimus.  Im- 
mo  ille  vir  fuerit,  qui  pericuHs  undique  inminentibus. 


DE  TRANQUILLITATE  ANIMI.  CAP.  IV,  Y. 


81 


armis  circa  et  catenis  frementibiis  non  adliserit  virtu- 
tem  nec  absconderit.  Non  est  enim  servare  se  obruere. 
16.  Ut  opinor,  Curius  Dentatiis  aiebat,  Malle  esse  se 
mortiium  quain  vivere.  Ultiiniim  inalorinn  est  vivo- 
rmn  niimero'  exire,  antecpiain  inoriaris.  Sed  facien¬ 
dum  erit,  si  in  reipublicae  tempus  minus  tractabile 
incideris,  ut  plus  otio  ac  literis  vindices:  nec  aliter 
quam  in  periculosa  navigatione  subinde  portum  petas 
nec  exspectes,  donee  res  te  dimittant,  sed  ab  illis  te  ipse 
di  inn  gas. 

ly.  Inspicere  autem  debebimus  primum  nosmetipsos, 
deinde  ea  quae  adgrediemur  negotia,  deinde  eos  quo¬ 
rum  causa  aut  cum  quibus.  Ante  omnia  necesse  est 
se  ipsum  aestimare,  quia  fere  plus  nobis  videmur  posse 
quam  possumus.  Alius  eloquentiae  liducia  prolabitur; 
alius  patrimonio  suo  plus  imperavit  quam  ferre  posset ; 
alius  infirmum  corpus  laborioso  pressit  officio.  2.  Quo- 
rumdam  parum  idonea  est  verecundia  rebus  civilibus, 
quae  primam  frontem  desiderant :  quorumdam  contu- 
macia  non  facit  ad  aulam:  quidam  non  liabent  iram  in 
potestate  et  illos  ad  temerai’ia  verba  quaelibet  indigna- 
tio  offert :  quidam  urbanitatem  nesciunt  continere  nec 
periculosis  abstinent  salibus.  Omnibus  liis  utilior  nego- 
tio  quies  est :  ferox  inpatiensque  natura  inritamenta 
nociturae  libertatis  evitet. 

y.  Aestimanda  sunt  deinde  ipsa,  quae  adgredimur,  et 
vires  nostrae  cum  rebus,  quas  temptaturi  sum  us,  con  pa- 
rand  ae.  Debet  enim  semper  plus  esse  virium  in  actore 
quam  in  onere :  necesse  est  opprirnant  onera,  quae  fe- 
rente  maiora  sunt.  2.  Quaedam  praeterea  non  tain 
magna  sunt  negotia  quam  fecunda  multumque  negoti- 
orum  ferunt :  et  baec  refugienda  sunt,  ex  quibus  nova 


82 


L.  ANNAEI  SENEOAE 


occnpatio  miiltiplexqne  nascetnr.  Nec  accedendum  eo, 
unde  liber  regressus  non  sit :  iis  adrnovenda  manus  est, 
quorum  finem  aut  facere  ant  certe  sperare  possis :  re- 
linqiienda,  quae  latius  actu  procedunt  nec  ubi  proposu- 
eris  desiiiunt. 

YI.  Hominum  utique  delectus  babeudus  est :  an 
digni  sint  quibus  partem  vitae  nostrae  inpendamus,  an 
ad  illos  temporis  nostri  iactura  perveuiat.  Quidam 
•  enim  ultro  officia  nobis  nostra  inputant.  Athenodorus 
ait,  ne  ad  coenam  quidem  se  iturum  ad  exim^  qui  sihi 
nil  jpro  hoc  debiturus  sit.  Puto  intellegis  multo  minus 
ad  eos  iturum,  qui  cum  amicorum  officiis  paria  mensa 
faciunt,  qui  fericula  pro  congiariis  numerant,  quasi  in 
alienum  lionorem  intemperantes  sint.  2.  Deme  illis  tes¬ 
tes  spectatoresque,  non  delectabit  popina  secreta.  Con- 
siderandum  est,  utrum  natura  tua  agendis  rebus  an  oti¬ 
ose  studio  contemplationique  aptior  sit,  et  eo  inclinan- 
dum  quo  te  vis  ingenii  feret.  Isocrates  Ephorum  in- 
iecta  manu  a  foro  subduxit  utiliorem  conponendis  mo- 
numentis  historiarum  ratus.  Male  enim  respondent 
coacta  ingenia:  reluctante  natura  inritus  labor  est. 

YII.  Nihil  tamen  aeque  oblectaverit  animura  quam 
Wnicitia  fidelis  et  dulcis.  Quantum  bonum  est,  ubi 
sunt  praeparata  pectora,  in  quae  tuto  secretum  omne 
descendat,  quorum  conscientiam  minus  quam  tuam  ti- 
meas,  quorum  sermo  sollicitudinem  leniat,  sententia 
consilium  expediat,  hilaritas  tristitiarn  dissipet,  con^ 
spectus  ipse  delectet?  Quos  scdicel;  vacuos,  quantum 
fieri  poterit,  a  cupiditatibns  ellgemus.  2.  Serpunt  enim 
vitia  et  in  proximum  quemque  transsiliunt  et  contactu 
nocent.  Itaque,  ut  in  pestilentia  curandum  est,  ne 
correptis  iam  corporibus  et  morbo  flagrantibus  adsi- 


83 


DE  TKANQUILLITATE  ANIMr.-^CAP.  VIII. 

deamus,  quia  pericula  trahemus  adflatiiqne  ipso  labora- 
bimiis:  ita  in  amicorum  legendis  ingeniis  dabimus  ope- 
ram,  iit  qiiam  minime  inqiiinatos  adsiimamiis.  Initium 
inorbi  est  aegris  sana  miscere.  Nec  hoc  praeceperiin 
tibi,  lit  nerninem  nisi  sapientera  seqiiaris  aut  adtrahas : 
iibi  enim  istum  invenies,  qiiem  tot  seciilis  qiiaerimiis? 
pro  optimo  est  minime  mains.  3.  Yix  tibi  esset  faciil- 
tas  delectus  felicioris,  si  inter  Platonas  et  Xenophontas 
et  ilium  Socratici  fetus  proventum  bonos  qiiaereres,  aut 
si  tibi  potestas  Catonianae  beret  aetatis,  quae  pleros- 
qiie  dignos  tulit,  qui  Catonis  seciilo  nascerentur,  siciit 
multos  peiores  quam  umquam  alias  rnaximoriimque 
molitores  scelerum.  Utraque  enim  turba  opus  erat, 
ut  Cato  posset  intellegi :  habere  debiiit  et  bonos,  qui- 
bus  se  adprobaret,  et  males,  in  qiiibus  vim  suam  expe- 
riretur.  4.  Xunc  vero  in  tanta  bonorum  egestate  mi¬ 
nus  fastidiosa  fiat  electio  :  praecipue  tamen  vitentur 
tristes  et  omnia  deplorantes,  qiiibus  nulla  non  causa  in 
querelas  placet.  Constet  illi  licet  fides  et  benevolen- 
tia ;  tranquillitati  tamen  inimiciis  est  comes  perturba- 
tus  et  omnia  gemens. 

YIII.  Transeamiis  ad  patrirnonia,  maximam  huma- 
narum  aerumnariim  materiam.  Xam  si  omnia  alia, 
quibus  angimur,  conpares,  mortes,  aegrotationes,  me- 
tns,  desideria,  dolorum  laborumque  patientiam,  cum  iis 
quae  nobis  mala  pecunia  nostra  exliibet,  haec  pars  mul- 
turn  pi*kegravabit.  Itaque  cogitandum  est,  quanto  le- 
vior  dolor  sit  non  habere  quam  perdere :  et  intellege- 
miis  paupertati  eo  minorem  tormentorum  quo  mino- 
rem  damnoriim  esse  materiam.  2.  Erras  enim,  si  putas 
aniinosius  detrimenta  divites  ferre :  maximis  rninimis- 
qiie  corporibus  par  est  dolor  volneris.  Bion  elegant er 


84 


L.  ANNAEI  SENECAE 


ait  non  minus  molestum  esse  calvis  quam  comatis 
qnlos  vein.  Idem  scias  licet  de  panperibus  locupleti- 
biiscpie,  par  illis  esse  tormentum  :  iitrisque  eriira  pe- 
ciinia  sua  obhaesit  nec  sine  sensu  revelli  potest.  Tol- 
erabilius  autem  est,  ut  dixi,  facili usque  non  adquirere 
quam  amittere ;  ideoque  laetiores  videbis  quos  num- 
quam  fortuna  respexit,  quam  quos  deseruit.  3.  Yidit 
hoc  Diogenes,  vir  ingentis  animi,  et  efEecit,  ne  quid  sibi 
eripi  posset.  Tu  istud  paupertatem,  inopiam,  egesta- 
tem  voca,  quod  voles  ignominiosum  securitati  nomen 
inpone :  putabo  hunc  non  esse  felicem,  si  quern  mihi 
alium  inveneris,  cui  nihil  pereat.  Aut  ego  fallor,  ant 
regnum  est  inter  avaros,  circumscriptores,  latrones,  pla¬ 
giaries  unum  esse,  cui  noceri  non  possit.  Si  qnis  de 
felicitate  Diogenis  dubitat,  potest  idem  dubitare  et  de 
deorum  inmortalium  statu,  an  parum  beate  degant, 
qnod  illis  nec  praedia  nec  horti  sint  nec  aJirclTo  colono 
rura  pretiosa  nec  grande  in  foro  fenns.  h4.  Non  te 
pudet,  quisquis  divitiis  adstupes  ?  respice  agedum  mnn- 
dum  :  nudos  videbis  deos,  omnia  dantes,  nihil  habentes. 
Hunc  tu  pauperem  putas  an  dis  inmortalibiis  similem, 
qui  se  fortuitis  omnibus  exuit?  Feliciorem  tu  Deme- 
trium  Pompeianum  vocas,  quern  non  puduit  locupleti- 
orem  esse  Pompeio?  Numerus  illi  cotidie  servorum 
velut  imperatori  exercitus  referebatur,  cui  iam  dudum 
divitiae  esse  debuerant  duo  vicarii  et  cella  laxior.  5. 
At  Diogeni  servus  unicus  fugit  nec  eum  reducere,  cum 
monstraretur,  tanti  putavit.  Turjpe  est^  inquit,  Mayien 
sine  Diogene  posse  vivere,  Diogeneii  sine  Mane  non 
posse.  Yidetur  mihi  dixisse  :  age  tuum  negotium,  for¬ 
tuna:  nihil  apud  Diogenen  iam  tui  est.  Fugit  mihi 
servus?  immo  liber  abiit.  Familia  petit  vestiarium 


V 


DE  TRANQUILLITATE  ANIMI.  CAP.  IX. 


85 


victumque :  tot  ventres  avidissimorum  animalium  tiien- 
di  simt :  emenda  vestis  et  custodiendae  rapacissimae 
maims  et  flentinm  detestantiumqiie  ministeriis  uten- 
dum.  6.  Quanto  ille  felicior,  qui  nihil  ulli  debet,  nisi 
quod  facillime  negat  sibi  ?  Sed  quoniam  non  est  nobis 
tantum  roboris,  angustanda  certe  sunt  patriinonia,  ut 
minus  ad  iniurias  fortunae  simus  expositi.  Habiliora 
sunt  corpora  in  bello,  quae  in  arma  sua  contrahi  pos- 
sunt,  quam  quae  superfunduntur  et  undique  magnitude 
sua  volneribus  obiecit.  Optimus  pecuniae  modus  est, 
qui  nec  in  paupertatem  cadit,  nec  procul  a  paupertate 
discedit. 

IX.  Placebit  autem  haec  nobis  mensura,  si  prius 
parsimonia  placuerit,  sine  qua  nec  ullae  opes  suffi- 
ciunt,  nec  ullae  non  satis  patent,  praesertim  cum  in 
vicino  remedium  sit  et  possit  ipsa  paupertas  in  divi- 
tias  se  advocata  frugalitate  convertere.  Adsuesca- 
mus  a  nobis  removere  pompam,  et  usus  rerum,  non 
ornamenta  metiri.  Cibus  faraem  domet,  potio  sitim, 
libido  qua  necesse  est  fluat.  Discamus  membris  nos- 
tris  inniti,  cultum  victumque  non  ad  nova  exempla 
conponere,  sed  ut  maiorum  mores  suadent.  2.  D|s- 
camiis  (X)htinentiai^augere,  luxuriam  coercere,  gulam 
temperare,  iracundiam  lenire,  paupertatem  aequis  ocu- 
lis  adspicere,  frugalitatem  colere,  etiam  si  similes  nos 
pudebit  esse  poplJ^l2,^Jdesideriis  naturalibus  parvo  pa- 
rata  remedia  adhibere,  spes  effrenatas  et  animum  in 
futura  eminentem  velut  sub  vinciilis  habere,  id  agere, 
ut  divitias  a  nobis  potius  quam  a  fortuna  petamus. 
Xon  potest  umquam  tanta  varietas  et  iniquitas  ca- 
suum  ita  depelli,  ut  non  multum  procellarum  inrnat 
magna  armamenta  pandentibus :  cogendae  in  artimi 


86 


L.  ANNAEI  SENECAE 


res  sunt,  ut  tela  in  vanuni  cadant.  3.  Ideoque  exilia 
interdurn  calamitatesque  in  remedium  cessere  et  le- 
vioribus  incoramodis  graviora  sanata  sunt,  ubi  parum 
audit  praecepta  animus  nec  curari  mollius  potest. 
Quidni  consulitur,  si  et  paupertas  et  ignominia  et 
rerum  eversio  adhibetur  ?  rnalo  malum  opponitur. 
Adsuescamus  ergo  coenare  posse  sine  populo  et  ser- 
vis  paucioribus  serviri  et  vestes  parare  in  quod  in- 
ventae  sunt,  habitare  contractius.  I^on  in  cursu  tan- 
tum  circique  certamine,  sed  in  his  spatiis  vitae  inte- 
rius  flectendum  est.  4.  Studiorum  quoque  quae  libe- 
ralissima  inpensa  est,  tamdiu  rationem  habet,  quam- 
diu  modum.  Quo  innumerabiles  libros  et  bibliothe¬ 
cas,  quarum  dominus  vix  tota  vita  indice^  perlegit  ? 
Onerat  discentem  turba,  non  instruit ;  mul toque  sati- 
us  est  paucis  te  auctoribus  tradere,  quam  errare  per 
rnultos.  Quadraginta  rnilia  librorum  Alexaiidriae  ar- 
serunt,  pulcherrimiim  regiae  opulentiae  monurnentum  : 
alius  laudaverit,  si  cut  et  Livius,  qui  elegantiae  regu7)% 
curaeque  egregium  id  opus  ait  fuisse.  5.  Non  fuit 
elegantia  illud  aut  cura,  sed  studiosa  luxuria ;  immo 
ne  studiosa  quidem,  quoniam  non  in  studium,  sed 
in  spectaculum  conparaverant,  sicut  plerisque  igna- 
ris  etiam  servilium  literarum  libri  non  studiorum 
instrumenta,  sed  coenationum  ornamenta  sunt.  Pa- 
retur  itaque  librorum  quantum  satis  sit,  nihil  in  ad- 
paratum.  6.  Honestius,  inquis,  hocce  inpensae  quam 
in  Corinthia  pictasque  tabulas  etfiiderint.  Vitio- 
sum  est  ubique,  quod  niinium  est.  Quid  habes, 
cur  ignoscas  homini  armaria  citro  atque  ebore  cap- 
tanti,  corpora  conquirenti  aut  ignotorum  auctoriim 
aut  inprobatorum  et  inter  tot  milia  librorum  oscitanti, 


DE  TKANQUILLITATE  ANIMI.  CAP.  X. 


87 


ciii  Yoluminum  suonim  frontes  maxime  placent  titiili- 

que  ?  7.  Apnd  desMib&fesimos  ergo  videbis  qiiicqaid 

orationnm  liistoriar unique  est,  tecto  tenus  exstructa 
1  ' 

loculamenta  :  iam  enim  inter  balnearia  et  tliermas 
bibliotheca  quoque  ut  iiecessarium  domus  orn amen¬ 
tum  expolitur.  Ignoscerem  plane,  si  studiorum  ni- 
mia  cupidine  oriretur :  nunc  ista  conquisita,  cum  ima- 
ginibus  suis  descripta  et  sacrorum  opera  ingepiorum 
in  speciem  et  cultum  parietum  conparantur. 

X.  At  ad  aliquod  genus  vitae  difficile  incidisti  et 
tibi  ignorant!  vel  publica  fortuna  vel  privata  laque- 
um  inpegit,  quern  nec  solvere  posses  nec  erumpere. 
Cogita  conpeditos  prime  aegre  ferre  onera  et  inpedi- 
menta  crurum  :  deinde  ubi  non  indignari  ilia,  sed 
pati  proposuerunt,  necessitas  fortiter  ferre  docet,  con¬ 
suetude  facile.  Invenies  in  quolibet  genere  vitae  ob- 
lectamenta  et  remissiones  et  voluptates,  si  nolueris, 
malam  putare  vitam  potius  quam  invidiosam  facere. 
2.  Xullo  melius  nomine  de  nobis  natura  meruit,  quam 
quod,  cum  sciret  quibus  aerumnis  nasceremur,  calami- 
tatum  mollimentum  consiietudinem  invenit,  cito  in 
familiaritatem  gravissima  adducens.  Xemo  duraret, 
si  rerum  adversarum  eamdem  vim  adsiduitas  haberet 
quam  primus  ictus.  Omnes  cum  fortuna  copulati 
sum  us :  aliorum  aurea  catena  est,  aliorum  laxa,  ali- 
orum  arta  et  sordida.  3.  Sed  quid  refert  ?  eadem 
custodia  universes  circumdedit  adligatique  sunt  etiam 
qui  adligaverunt ;  nisi  forte  tu  leviorem  in  smistra 
catenam  putas.  Alium  honores,  alium  opes  vinciunt : 
quosdam  nobilitas,  quosdam  liumilitas  premit :  quibus- 
dam  aliena  supra  caput  imperia  sunt,  quibusdam  sua  : 
quosdam  exilia  uno  loco  tenent,  quosdam  sacerdotia. 


88 


L.  ANNAEI  SEN^:CAE 


Omnis  vita  servitinra  est.  4.  Adsnescendum  est  ita- 
que  condicioni  suae  et  quam  minimum  de  ilia  que- 
rendum  et  quicquid  habet  circa  se  commodi,  ad- 
prendendum.  Nihil  tarn  acerbum  est,  in  quo  non 
aequus  animus  solatium  inveniat.  Exiguae  saepe 
areae  in  multos  us  us  describentis  arte  patuerunt  et 
quamvis  angustum  pedem  dispositio  fecit  babitabb 
lem.  Adbibe  rationem  difficultatibus  :  possunt  et 
dura  molliri  et  angusta  laxari  et  gravia  scite  ferentis 
piinus  premere.  5.  Non  sunt  praeterea  cupiditates 
in  longinquum  mittendae,  sed  in  vicinum  illis  egredi 
perniittarnus,  quoniam  includi  ex  toto  imn  patiuntur. 
Relictis  his,  quae  aut  non  possunt  fieri ^al^ditbpijl ter 
possunt,  prope  posita  speique  nostrae^  aSludentia  se- 
quamur;  sed  sciamus  omnia  aeque  levia  esse,  extrinse- 
cus  diversas  facies  habentia,  introrsus  'pariter  vana. 
Nec  invideannj^,  altius  stantibus  :  quae  excelsa  vide- 
bantur,  praerupta  sunf.  6.  Illi  rursus,  quos  sors  ini- 
qua  in  ancipiti  posuit,  tutiores  erunt  superbiam  de- 
trahendo  rebus  per  se  superbis  et  fortunam  suam, 
quam  maxime  poterunt,  in  planum  deferend,o.  Mul¬ 
ti  quidem  sunt,  quibus  necessario  baerendum  sit  jn 
fastigio  suo,  ex  quo  non  possunt  nisi  cadendo  descen- 
dere :  sed  hoc  ipsum  testentur  maximum  onus  suum 
esse,  quod  aliis  graves  esse  cogantur,  nec  sublevatos 
se,  sed  suffixos  :  iustitia,  mansuetudine  bumana,  larga 
et  benigna  manu  praeparent  multa  ad  secundos  casus 
praesidia,  quorum  spe  securius  pendeant.  7.  Nihil 
tamen  aeque  nos  ab  bis  animi  fluctibus  vindicaverit, 
quam  semper  aliquem  incrementis  terrninum  figere : 
nec  fortunae  arbitrium  desinendi  dare,  sed  ipsos  mul- 
to  quidem  citra  exempla  hortentur  consistere.  Sic  et 


DE  TKANQUILLITATE  ANIMI.  CAP.  XI. 


89 


aliqiiae  cupiditates  an  i mum  acuent  et  finitae,  non  in 
inmensum  incertumque  producent. 

XI.  Ad  inperfectos  et  mediocres  et  male  sanos  hie 
mens  sermo  pertinet,  non  ad  sapientem.  Huic  non 
timide  nec  pedetentim  ambiilandurn  est :  tanta  enim 
fidueia  sui  est,  ut  obviaih  fortunae  ire  non  dubitet  nec 
umqnam  loco  illi  cessurus  sit :  nec  habet,  ubi  illam 
timeat,  quia  non  mancipia  tantnm  possess! onesque 
et  dignitatem,  sed  corpus  quoque  suum  et  oculos  et 
manum  et  quicquid  cariorem  vitarn  facturum  seque 
ipsurn  inter  precaria  numerat  vivitque  ut  commoda- 
tus  sibi  et  reposcentibus  sine  tristitia  redditurus.  2. 
Xec  ideo  .vilis  est  sibi,  quia  scit  se  suum  non  esse ; 
sed  omnia  tarn  diligenter  faciet,  tarn  circumspecte, 
quam  religiosus  homo  sanctusque  solet  tueri  fidei  com- 
inissa.xfQuandocumque  autem  reddere  iubebitur,  non 
queretur  cum  fortuna,  sed  dicet :  Gratias  ago  pro  eo, 
quod  possedi  habuique.  Magna  quidem  res  tuas 
mercede  colui,  sed  quia  imperas,  do,  cedo  gratus  li- 
bensque :  si  quid  habere  me  tui  volueris,  etiam  nunc 
servabo :  si  aliud  placet,  ego  vero  factum  signatum- 
que  argentum,  domum  familiamque  mearn  reddo, 
restituo.  3.  Adpellaverit  natura  quae  prior  nobis 
credidit,  et  huic  dicemus :  Recipe  animum  meliorem 
quam  dedisti :  non  tergiversor  nec  refugio  :  paratum 
habes  a  volente,  quod  non  sentienti  dedisti :  aufer. 
Reverti  unde  veneris  quid  grave  est  ?  male  vivet, 
quisquis  nesciet  bene  mori.  Huic  itaque  primum 
rei  pretium  detrahendum  est  et  spiritus  in  servilia 
numerandus.  Gladiatores^  ut  ait  Cicero,  invisos  ha- 
hermis^  si  omni  modo  vitarn  injpetrare  cupiimt :  fa- 
vermes^  si  contemjpturn  eius  prae  se  ferunt.  Idem 


90 


L.  ANNAEI  SENECAE 


eveilire  nobis  scias :  saepe  enim  causa  moriendi  est 
timide  mori.  4.  Fortnna  ilia,  quae  ludos  sibi  facit, 
Quo,  inquit,  te  reservein,  malum  et  trepidum  animal? 
eo  magis  convolneraberis  et  confodieris,  quia  nescis 
praebere  iugulum.  At  tu  et  vives  diutius  et  mori- 
eris  expeditius,  qui  ferrnm  non  subducta  cervice  nec 
rnanibus  oppositis,  sed  animose  recipis.  Qiii  mortem 
timebit,  nihil  iimquam  pro  homine  vivo  faciet :  at 
qui  sciat  hoc  sibi  cum  conciperetur  statim  condictum, 
vivet  ad  formulam  et  simul  illud  quoque  eodem  ani- 
mi  robore^i'aestabit,  ne  quid  ex  iis,  quae  eveniunt, 
subitum  sit^p  6.  Quicquid  enim  fieri  potest,  quasi  fu- 
turum  sit,  prospiciendo  malorum  omnium  inpetus 
molliet;  qui  ad  praeparatos  exspectantesque  nihil' ad- 
ferunt  novi,  securis  et  beata  tantum  specfantibus  gra¬ 
ves  veniunt.  Morbus  enim,  cajjtivitas,  ruina,  ignis, 
nihil  horum  repentinum  est.  Sciebam,  in  qiiarn  tu- 
multuosum  me  contubernium  natura  clusisset  :  to- 

*  V 

tiens  in  vicinia  mea  conclamatum  est,  totiens  praeter 
limen  inmaturas  exsequias  fax  cereusque  praeces^it : 
saepe  a  latere  mentis  aedificii  fragor  sonuit  :  mul- 
tos  ex  iis,  quos  forum,  curia,  serum  mecum  contrax- 
erat,  nox  abstulit  et  iunctas  ad  sodalitium  manus 
capulus  interscidit.  6.  Mirer  ad  me  aliquando  pe- 
ricula  accessisse,  quae  circa  me  semper  erraverint  ? 
Magna  pars  hominum  est,  quae  navigatura  de  tem- 
pestate  non  cogitat.  Numquam  me  in  bona  re  mali 
pudebit  auctoris.  Publius,  tragicis  comicisque  vehe- 
mentior  ingeniis,  quotiens  mimicas  ineptias  et  verba 
ad  summani  caveam  spectantia  reliquit,  inter  multa 
alia  cothurno,  non  tantum  sipario  fortiora,  et  hoc  ait : 

Cuiv is  potest  accidere  quod  ciiiq  uain  potest. 


DE  TKANQUILLITATE  ANIMI,  CAP.  XL 


91- 


7.  Hoc  si  qiiis  in  medullas  demiserit  et  omnia  aliena 
mala,  quorum  ingens  cotidie  copia  est,  sic  adspexeiit, 
tamquam  liberum  illis  et  ad  se  iter  sit ;  multo  ante 
se  armabit  quarn  petatur.  Sero  animus  ad  periculo- 
rum  patientiam  post  pericula  instruitnr.  Non  putavi 
hoc  futurum  :  et  nmquam  tu  hoc  eventurum  credi- 
disses  ?  Quare  autem  non  ?  Quae  sunt  divitiae,  quas 
non  egestas  et  fames  et  mendicitas  a  tergo  sequatur  ? 
Quae  dignitas,  cuius  non  praetextam  et  augurale  et  lora 
patr^cia  sordes  comitentur  et  exportatio,  notae  et  mille 
maculae  et  extrema  contemptio  ?  8.  Quod  regnum 

est,  cui  non  parata  sit  ruin  a  et  proculcatio  et  dominiis 
et  carnifex  ?  nec  magnis  ista  intervallis  di  visa,  sed  ho- 
rae  momentum  interest  inter  solium  et  aliena  ^enua. 


Scito  ergo  omnem  condicionem  versabilem  esse  et 
quicquid  in  ullum  incurrit,  posse  in  te  quoque  incur- 
rere.  Locuples  es  ?  numquid  divitior  Pompeio  ?  cui 
cum  Cains,  vetus  cognatus,  hospes  novus,  aperuisset 
Caesaris  domum,  ut  suam  cluderet,  defuit  panis,  aqua : 
cum  tot  flumina  possid^ret.in  suo  orientia,  in  suo  ca- 
dentia,  mendicavit  stillicidia  :^fame  ac  siti  periit  in 
palatio  cognati,  dum  illi  hei’es  publicum  funus  esuri-r^ 
enti  locat.  9.  Honoribus  summis  functus  es  ?  num¬ 
quid  aut  tarn  magnis  ant  tarn  insperatis  aut  tarn  uni- 
versis  quani  Seianus  ?  Quo  die  ilium  senates  de- 
duxerat,  populus  in  frusta  divisit :  in  quem,  quicquid 
congeri  poterat,  di  hominesque  contulerant,  ex  eo 
nihil  superfuit,  quod  carnifex  traheret.  Hex  es  ?  non 
ad  Croesum  te  mittam,  qui  rogum  suurn  et  escendit 
iussus  et  exstingui  vidit,  factus  non  regno  tautum, 
sed  etiam  morti  suae  superstes :  non  ad  lugurtbam, 
quem  populus  Romanus  iiitra  annum,  quam  timuerat. 


92 


L.  ANNAEI  SENECAE 


.  Ptolemaeum  Africae  reffein,  Armeniae. 
Mitliridateii  inter  Caianas  ciistodias  vidimus  :  alter  in 
exilinm  laiissus  est,  alter  ut  meliore  fide  mitteretur, 
optabat.  In  tanta  rerum  sursum  ac  deorsum  eunti- 
iim  versatione  si  non  quicquid  fieri  potest,  pro  futuro 
babes,  das  in  te  vires  rebus  adversis,  quas  infregit, 
quisquis  prior  vidit.  11.  Proxiinum  ab  bis  erit,  ne 
,aut  in  supervacuis  aut  ex,  supervacuo  laboremus,  id 
est,  ne  aut  quae  non  possumus  consequi,  concupisca- 
mus,  aut  adepti  vanitatem  cupiditatium  nostrarurn 
sero  post  multum  pudorem  intellegamus :  id  est,  ne 
aut  labor  inritus  sit  sine  efiectu  aut  effectus  labore 
indignus.  Fere  eniin  ex  bis  tristitia  sequitur,  si  aut 
non  successit  aut  successus  pudet. 

XII.  Circumcidenda  concursatio,  qualis  est  magnae 
parti  bominum  domos  et  tbeatra  et  fora  pererran- 
tium.  Alienis  se  negotiis  ofierunt,  semper  aliquid 
agentibus  similes.  Ilorum  si  aliquem  exeuntem  e 
domo  interrogaveris,  Quo  tu  ?  quid  cogitas  ?  responde- 
bit  tibi :  Xon  mebercules  scio  :  sed  aliquos  videbo, 
aliquid  agam.  Sine  proposito  vagantur  quaerentes 
negotia  nec  quae  destinaverunt  agunt,  sed  in  quae  in- 
currerunt.  Inconsultus  illis  vanusque  cursus  est,  qua¬ 
lis  formicis  per  arbiista  repentibus,  quae  in  summum 
cacumen,  deinde  in  imum  inanes  agunturfy  2.  His  ple- 
rique  similem  vitam  agunt,  quorum  non  inmerito  quis 
.inquietam  inertiam  dixeritp^  Quorumdam  quasi  ad 
incendium  currentium  misereris  :  usque  eo  inpellunt 
obvios  et  se  aliosque  praecipitant,  cum  interim  cu- 
currerunt  aut  salutaturi  aliquem  non  resalutaturum 
aut  funus  ignoti  bominis  prosccuturi,  aut  iudiciiim 
saepe  litigantis  aut  sponsalia  saepe  nubentis,  et  lec- 


speetavit.  '  10 


DE  TRANQUILLITATE  ANIMI.  CAP.  XIII. 


,93 


ticam  adsectati  quibiisdam  locis  etiairi  tiileriint :  de¬ 
lude  domum  cum  supervacua  redeuntes  lassitudine 
iurant  nescisse  se  ipsos,  quare  exierint,  ubi  fuerint, 
postero  die  erraturi  per  eadein  ilia  vestigia.  Omnis 
itaque  labor  aliquo  referatur, .  aliquo  respiciat.  3. 
Non  industria,  inquietos  et  insanos  falsae  rerum  ima¬ 
gines  agitant :  nam  ne  illi  quidem  sine  aliqua  spe 
moventur,  proritat  illos  ali cuius  rei  species,  cuius 
vanitatem  capta  mens  non  coarguit.  Eodem  modo 
unumquemque  ex  bis,  qui  ad  augendam  turbam  ex¬ 
eunt,  inanes  et  leves  causae  per  urbem  circumduount 
niliilque  habentem,  in  quod  laboret,  lux  orta  expellit ; 
et  cum  multorum  frustra  liminibus  illisus  nornencu- 
latores  persalutavit,  a  multis  exclusus  neminem  ex 
omnibus  difficilius  domi  quam  se  convenit.  4.  Ex 
hoc  malo  depen det  illud  teterrimum  vitium,  auscul- 
tatio  et  publicorum  secretorumque  inquisitio  et  mul- 
tarum  rerum  scientia,  quae  nec  tuto  narrantur  nec 
tuto  audiuntur.  Hoc  secutum  puto  Democritum  ita 
coepisse ;  Qui  tranquille  volet  vivere,  ncc  jorivatim 
agat  multa  nec  pvMice,  ad  supervacua  scilicet  re- 
ferentem.  Nam  si  necessaria  sunt,  et  privatim  et 
publice  non  tantum  multa,  sed  innumerabilia  agenda 
sunt :  ubi  vero  nullum  officium  sollemne  nos  citat, 
inhibendae  actiones. 

XIII.  Nam  qui  multa  agit,  saepe  fortunae  potesta- 
tern  sui  facit ;  quam  tutissimum  est  raro  experiri,  ce- 
terum  semper  de  ilia  cogitare  et  nihil  sibi  de  fide  eius 
promittere.  Navigabo,  nisi  si  quid  inciderit :  et  prae¬ 
tor  fiam,  nisi  si  quid  obstiterit  :  et  negotiatio  mihi 
respondebit,  nisi  si  quid  intervenerit.  2.  Hoc  est 
quare  sapienti  nihil  contra  opinionem  dicamus  ac- 

E 


94 


L.  ANNAEI  SENECAE 


cidere  :  non  ilium  casibus  liominum  excerpimus,  sed 
erroribus ;  nec  illi  omnia  ut  voliiit  cediint,  sed  ut  co- 
gitavit  :  inprimis  autem  cogitavit  alind  posse  pro- 
positis  suis  resistere.  Necesse  est  autem  levius  ad 
animum  pervenire  destitutae  cupiditatis  dolorem,  cui 
successum  non  utique  promiseris. 

XIY.  Faciles  etiam  nos  facere  debemus,  ne  nimis 
destinatis  rebus  indulgeamus;  transeamusque  in  ea,  in 
quae  nos  casus  deduxerit,  nec  mutatioues  aut  coiisilii 
aut  status  pertimescamiis,  dummodo  nos  Tevitas,  inimi- 
cissimum  quieti  vitium,  non  excipiat.  Nam  et  perti- 
nacia  necesse  est  anxia  et  misera  sit,  cui  fortuna  saepe 
aliquid  extorquet,  et  levitas  multo  gravior  nusquam  se 
coutinens.  Utrumque  iiifestum  est  tranquillitati,  et 
nihil  mutare  posse  et  nihil  pati.  2.  Utique  animus  ab 
omnibus  externis  in  se  revocandus  est:  sibi  confidat, 
se  gaudeat,  sua  suspiciat,  recedat,  quantum  potest,  ab 
alienis  et  se  sibi  adplicet,  damna  non  sentiat,  etiam  ad- 
versa  benigne  interpretetur.  Xuntiato  naufragio  Ze- 
non  noster,  cum  omnia  sua  audiret  submersa,  lubet^ 
inquit,  me  fortuna  expeditius  jdiilosophari.  Minaba- 
tur  Theodoro  philosopho  tyrannus  mortem  et  quidem 
insepultam.  Ilabes,  inquit,  cur  tihi  placeas  :  hemina 
sanguinis  in  tua  potestate  est :  nam  quod  ad  sepultu- 
ram  pertinet^  o  te  ineptum,  si  putas  mea  inter  esse  su¬ 
pra  terrain  an  infra  putrescam.  3.  Canus  lulius,  vir 
inprimis  magnus,  cuius  admirationi  ne  hoc  quidem 
obstat,  quod  nostro  seculo  natus  est,  cum  Caio  din  al- 
tercatus,  postquam  abennti  Phalaris  ille  dixit,  Ne  forte 
incpta  spe  tihi  hlandiaris^  duci  te  iussi  :  Gratias,  in- 
ago,  optime  qirinceps.  Quid  senserit  dubito:  iniil- 
ta  enim  mihi  occurj’unt.  Coutumeliosus  esse  voluit  et 


DE  TEANQUILLITATE  ANIMI.  CAP.  XIV. 


95 


ostendere,  quanta  crudelitas  esset,  in  qua  mors  benefi- 
ciurn  erat  ?  An  exprobravit  illi  cotidianam  demen- 
tiam  ?  agebant  enim  grati^et  quorum  liberi  occisi  et 
quorum  boiia  ablata  erant.  f4.  An  tamquam  libertatem 
libenter  accepit?  Quicquid  est,  magno  animo  respon- 
dit.  Dicet  aliquis  :  Potuit  post  hoc  iubere  ilium  Caius 
vivere.  I^on  timuit  hoc  Can  us :  nota  erat  Caii  in  ta- 
libus  imperiis  fides.  ,  Credisne  ilium  decern  medios 
usque  ad  supplicium  dies  sine  ulla  sollicitudine  exe- 
gisse  ?  verisimile  non  est,  quae  vir  ille  dixerit,  quae 
fecerit,  quam  in  tranquillo  fuerit.  Ludebat  latruncu- 
lis,  cum  centurio  agmen  periturorum  trahens  ilium 
quoque  excitari  iuberet.  Yocatus  numeravit  calculos 
et  sodali  suo,  Yide^  inquit,  ne  post  mortem  meain  men- 
tiaris  te  vicisse.  5.  Turn  adnuens  centurioni,  Testis, 
in  quit,  eris  uno  me  antecedere.  Lusisse  tu  Canum  ilia 
tabula  putas  ?  inlusit.  Tristes  erant  amici  talem  amis- 
suri  virum.  Quid  moesti,  in  quit,  estis  f  Vos  quaeri- 
tis  an  inmortales  animae  sint :  ego  iam  sciam :  nec 
desiit  veritatem  in  ipso  tine  scrutari  et  ex  morte  siia 
quaestionem  habere.  Prosequebatur  ilium  philosophus 
suns  nec  iam  procul  erat  tumulus,  in  quo  Caesari  deo 
nostro  fiebat  cotidianum  sacrum.  Is,  Quid,  inquit.  Ca¬ 
ne,  nunc  Gogitas  f  aut  quae  tihi  mens  estf  Ohservare, 
inquit  Canus,  proposed  illo  velocissimo  momento  an 
sensurus  sit  animnts  exire  se  :  promisitque,  si  quid  ex- 
plorasset,  circumiturum  amicos  et  indicaturum,  quis 
esset  animaruin  status..  6.  Ecce  in  media  tempestate 
trail qui  11  i tas :  ecce  animus  aeternitate  dignus,  qui  fa- 
tura  suum  in  argumentura  veri  vocat;  qui  in  ultimo 
illo  gradii  positus  exeuntem  animam  percunctatur  nec 
usque  ad  mortem  taiituni,  sed  aliquid  ctiaiii  ex  ipsa 


96 


L.  ANNAEI  SENECAE 


inorte  discit :  nemo  diutius  philosopliatus.  Sed  non 
raptim  relinquetur  magnus  vir  et  cum  cura  dicendus : 
dabimus  te  in  omnem  memoria^n,  clarissimum  caput, 
Caianae  cladis  magna  portio  !  ^ 

XY.  Sed  nihil  prodest  privatae  tiistitiae  causas  abie- 
cisse.  Occupat  enim  nonnumquam  odium  generis  hu- 
mani  et  occurrit  tot  scelerum  felicium  turba,  cum  cogi- 
taveris,  quam  sit  rara  simplicitas  et  quam  ignota  inno- 
centia  et  vix  umquam,  nisi  cum  expedit,  tides,  et  libidi- 
nis  lucra  damnaque  pariter  invisa  et  ambitio  usque  eo 
iam  se  suis  non  continens  terminis,  ut  per  turpitudinem 
splendeat.  Agitur  animus  in  noctem  et  velut  eversis 
virtutibus,  quas  nec  sperare  licet  nec  habere  prodest, 
tenebrae  oboriuntur.  2.  In  hoc  itaque  tlectendi  sumus, 
ut  omnia  volgi  vitia  non  in  visa  nobis,  sed  ridicula  vi de¬ 
an  tur  et  Democritum  potius  imitemur  quam  Heracli- 
tum.  Hie  enim,  quotiens  in  publicum  processerat,  fle- 
bat,  ille  ridebat:  huic  omnia,  quae  agimus,  miseriae,  illi 
ineptiae  videbantur.  Elevanda  ergo  omnia  et  facili  ani- 
mo  ferenda :  humanius  est  deridere  vitam  quam  deplo- 
rare.  3.  Adice  quod  de  humano  quoque  genere  melius 
meretur  qiii  ridet  illnd,  quam  qui  luget.  Ille  et  spei 
bonae  aliquid  rel inquit ;  hie  autem  stulte  deflet,  quae 
corrigi  posse  desperat:  et  uni  versa  contemplatus  maio- 
ris  animi  est,  qui  risum  non  tenet  quam  qui  lacrimas, 
quando  levissimum  adfectum  animi  movet  et  nihil  mag¬ 
num,  nihil  severum,  ne  serium  quidem  ex  tanto  paratu 
putat.  Singula  propter  quae  laeti  ac  tristes  sumus,  sibi 
quisque  proponat  et  sciet  verum  esse  quod  Bion  dixit. 
Omnia  hominum  negotia  similia  initiis  esse  nec  vitam 
illorum  magis  sanctam  ant  severam  esse  quam  concep- 
tum.  4.  Sed  satins  est  publicos  mores  et  humana  vitia 


DE  TRANQUILLITATE  ANIMI.  CAP.  XV.  97 

placide  accipere  nec  in  risum  nec  in  lacrimas  exciden- 
tcra.  ^Tam  alienis  malis  torqueri  aeterna  miseria  est, 
alienis  delectari  malis  volnptas  inhnmana :  sicut  ilia 
inutilis  humanita's  Here,  quia  aliquis  filiam  efferat,  et 
frontem  suam  fingere.  In  suis  quoque  malis  ita  gerere 
se  oportet,  ut  dolori  tantum  des,  quantum  poscit,  non 
quantum  consuetude.  Plerique  enim  lacrimas  fun- 
dunt,  ut  ostendant,  et  totiens  siccos  oculos  babent,  quo- 
tiens  spectator  defuit,  turpe  iudicantes  non  flere,  cum 
omnes  faciant.  5.  Adeo  penitus  hoc  se  malum  fixit,  ex 
aliena  opinione  pendere,  ut  in  simulationem  etiam  res 
simplicissima,  dolor,  veniat.  Sequetur  pars,  quae  solet 
non  inmerito  contristare  et  in  sollicitudinem  adducere, 
ubi  bonorum  exitus  mali  sunt:  ut  Socrates  cogitur  in 
carcere  mori,  Rutilius  in  exilio  vivere,  Pompeius  et 
Cicero  clientibus  suis  praebere  cervicem,  Cato  ille,  vir- 
tutum  viva  imago,  incumbens  gladio  simul  de  se  ac  de 
republica  palam  facere.  6.  Kecesse  est  torqueri  tarn 
iniqua  praemia  fortunara  persolvere  :  et  quid  sibi  quis- 
que  nunc  speret,  cum  videat  pessima  optimos  pati  ? 
Quid  ergo  est  ?  vide  quomodo  quisque  illorum  tulerit ; 
et  si  fortes  fuerunt,  ipsorum  illos  anirnos  desidera :  si 
muliebriter  et  ignave  perierunt,  nihil  periit.  Aut  digni 
sunt,  quorum  virtus  tibi  placeat,  aut  in  digni,  quorum 
desideretur  ignavia.  Quid  enim  est  turpius  quam,  si 
maximi  viri  timidos  fortiter  moriendo  faciunt?  Lau- 
demus  totiens  dignum  laudibus  et  dicamus :  Tanto  for- 
tior,  tanto  felicior!  hominis  effugisti  casus,  livorem, 
morbum :  existi  ex  custodia :  non  tu  dignus  mala  for- 
tuna  dis  visus  es,  sed  indignus,  in  quern  iam  aliquid 
fortuna  posset.  7.  Subducentibus  vero  se  et  in  ipsa 
morte  ad  vitam  respectantibus  manus  iniciendae  sunt. 


98 


L,  ANNAEI  SENECAE 


Neminem  flebo  laetnm,  neminem  flentem  :  ille  lacri- 
111  as  meas  ipse  abstersit,  liic  suis  lacrimis  effecitjiie  iillis 
dignus  sit.  Ego  Herculem  fleam,  quod  vivus  uritur, 
aut  Eegulum,  quod  tot  clavis  transfigitur,  aut  Catoiiem, 
quod  volnere  suo?  Oriines  isti  levi  temporis  inpeiisa 
invenerunt,  quomodo  aeterni  fierent,  et  ad  inmortalita- 
tem  moriendo  venerunt.  8.  Est  et  ilia  sollicitudinum 
non  mediocris  materia,  si  te  anxie  conponas  nec  ullis 
simpliciter  ostendas;  qualis  multorum  vita  est,  ficta, 
ostentationi  parata.  Torquet  enim  adsidua  observatio 
sui  et  depreliendi  aliter  ac  solet,  metuit ;  nec  umquam 
cura  solvimur,,  ubi  totiens  nos  aestimari  putamus,  quo- 
tiens  adspici.  Nam  et  multa  incidunt,  quae  invites 
denudent,  et,  ut  bene  cedat  tanta  sui  diligentia,  non 
tamen  iucunda  vita  aut  secura  est  semper  sub  persona 
viventium.  9.  At  ilia  quantum  habet  voluptatis  sin- 
cera  et  per  se  inornata  simplicitas,  nihil  obtendens  mo- 
ribus  suis  ?  Subit  tamen  et  haec  vita  contemptus 
periculum,  si  omnia  omnibus  patent :  sunt  enim  qui 
fastidiant,  quicquid  propius  adierunt.  Sed  nec  virtuti 
(lericulum  est,  ne  admota  oculis  revilescat,  et  satins  est 
simplicitate  contemni  quam  perpetua  simulatione  tor- 
queri.  Modum  tamen  rei  adliibeamus:  multum  inter¬ 
est,  simpliciter  vivas  an  neglegenter.  Multum  et  in 
se  recedendum  est :  conversatio  enim  dissimilium  bene 
conposita  disturbat  et  renovat  adfectus  et  quicquid  in- 
becillum  in  animo  nec  perciiratum  est,  exulcerat.  10. 
Miscenda  tamen  ista  et  alternanda  sint,  solitude  et  fre- 
quentia.  Ilia  nobis  faciet  hominum  desiderium,  haec 
nostri ;  et  erit  alter!  alterius  remedium :  odium  turbae 
sanabit  solitude,  taedium  solitudinis  turba.  Nec  in 
eadem  iiitentione  aequaliter  retinenda  mens  est,  sed 


DE  TRANQUILLITATE  ANIMT.  CAP.  XV,  99 

ad  iocos  devocanda.  Cum  puerulis  Socrates  ludere 
non  erubescebat;  et  Cato  vino  laxabat  animuin  curis 
publicis  fatigatum.  11.  Et  Scipio  triiimphale  illud 
ac  militare  corpus  movet  ad  numeros,  non  molliter  se 
infringens,  ut  nunc  mos  est  etiain  incessu  ipso  ultra 
muliebrem  mollitiam  fluentibus^'^sed  ut  antiqui  illi  viri 
solebant  inter  lusum  ac  festa  tempora  virilern  in  mo- 
dum  tripudiare,  non  facturi  detrimentum,  etiam  si  ab 
hostibus  suis  spectarentur.  Danda  est  animis  remis- 
sio :  meliores  acrioresque  requieti  surgent.  Ut  fertili- 
bus  agris  non  est  imperandum  (cito  eniin  illos  exliau- 
Aet  numquam  intermissa  fecunditas),  ita  animorum 
inpetus  adsiduus  labor  franget.  Vires  recipient  pau- 
lurn  resoluti  et  emissi.  12.  Nascitur  ex  adsiduitate  la- 
borum  animorum  hebetatio  quaedam  et  languor:  nec 
ad  hoc  tanta  hominum  cupiditas  tenderet,  nisi  natu- 
ralem  quamdam  voluptatem  haberet  lusus  iocusque ; 
quorum  frequens  usus  omne  animis  pondus  oinneni- 
que  vim  eripiet.  Uam  et  somnus  refectioni  necessa- 
rius  est :  liunc  tamen  si  per  diem  noctemque  con¬ 
tinues,  mors  erit.  Multum  interest,  remittas  aliquid, 
an  solvas.  Legum  conditores  festos  instituerunt  dies, 
ut  ad  hilaritatem  homines  publice  cogerentur,  tam- 
quam  necessarium  laboribus  interponentes  tempera- 
mentum.  13.  Et  magni,  ut  dixi,  viri  quidam  sibi  men- 
struas  certis  diebus  ferias  dabant ;  quidam  nullum  non 
diem  inter  otium  et  curas  dividebant;  qualem  Polli- 
onem  Asinium,  oratorem  magnum,  meminimus  quern 
nulla  res  ultra  decumam  retinuit :  ne  epistulas  qui- 
dem  post  earn  horam  legebat,  ne  quid  novae  curae 
nasceretur;  sed  totius  diei  lassitudinem  duabus  illis 
lioris  ponebat.  Quidam  medio  die  interiunxerunt  et 


100 


L.  ANNAEI  SENEOAE 


in  postmeridianas  lioras  aliqnid  levioris  operae  dis- 
tulerunt.  14.  Maiores  qiiocpie  nostri  novam  relatio- 
nem  post  horam  decimam  in  senatn  fieri  vetabant. 
Miles  vigilias  dividit  et  nox  inmunis  est  ab  expedi- 
tione  redeuntiiim.  Indulgendum  est  animo  dandum- 
que  subinde  otium,  quod  alimenti  ac  virium  loco  sit: 
et  in  ambulationibus  apertis  vagandum,  ut  coelo  li- 
bero  et  multo  spiritu  augeat  adtollatque  se  animus. 
Aliquando  vectatio  iterque  et  mutata  regio  vigorem 
dabunt  convictusque  et  liberalior  potio:  nonnumquam 
et  usque  ad  ebrietatem  veniendum,  non  ut  mergat 
nos,  sed  ut  deprimat.  “^IS.  Eluit  enim  curas  et  ab 
imo  animum  movet  et  ut  morbis  quibusdam  ita  tris- 
titiae  medetur.  LiberqpiQ  non  ob  licentiam  linguae 
dictus  est  inventor  vini,  sed  quia  liberat  servitio  cu- 
rarum  animum  et  adserit  vegetatque  et  audaciorem 
in  omnes  conatus  facit.  Sed  ut  libertatis  ita  vini  sa- 
lubris  moderatio  est.  Solonem  Arcesilaumque  indul- 
sisse  vino  credunt.  Catoni  ebrietas  obiecta  est:  faci- 
lius  efiiciet,  quisquis  obiecerit,  lioc  crimen  honestum 
quam  turpem  Catonem.  Sed  nec  saepe  faciendum 
est,  ne  animus  malam  consuetudinem  ducat,  et  ali¬ 
quando  tamen  in  exsultationem  libertatemque  extra¬ 
hen  dus  tristisque  sobrietas  removenda  paulisper.  16. 
Nam  sive  Graeco  poetae  credimus,  aliquando  et  in- 
sanire  iucundum  est ;  sive  Platoni,  frustra  poeticas 
fores  conpos  sui  pepulit ;  sive  Aristoteli,  nullum 
magnum  ingenium  sine  mixtura  dementiae  fuit : 
non  potest  grande  aliquid  et  super  ceteros  loqui  nisi 
mota  mens.  Cum  volgaria  et  solita  contempsit  in- 
stinctuque  sacro  surrexit  excelsior,  tunc  demum  ali¬ 
quid  cecinit  grandius  ore  mortali.  17.  Non  potest 


DE  TKANQUILLITATE  ANIMT.  CAP.  XV. 


101 


sublime  quicquam  et  in  ardiio  positum  contingcre, 
quamdiu  apud  se  est :  desciscat  oportet  a  solito  et 
efferatur  et  mordeat  frenos  et  rectorem  rapiat  suum 
eoque  ferat,  quo  per  se  timuisset  esceridere. 

llabes,  Serene  carissime,  quae  possint  tranquillita- 
tera  tneri,  quae  restituere,  quae  subrepentibus  vitiis 
resistant,  lllud  tamen  scito,  nihil  liorum  satis  esse 
validum  rem  inbecillam  servantibus,  nisi  intenta  et 
adsidua  cura  circumit  animum  labentem. 


Coin  of  Nero,  with  faf  ade  of  the  Macellum  Augusti.  From  the 

British  Museum. 


The  Areopagus. 


L.  ANNAEI  SENBCAE 


AD  PAULINUM 

DE  BREVITATE  YITAE 


LIBER  UN  US. 


The  spirit  of  Stoicism  existing  by  itself  is  narrow  and  harsh ;  it 
has  too  great  affinity  to  pride  and  egotism ;  it  is  too  repressive  of  the 
spontaneous  feelings,  of  art,  and  poetry,  and  geniality  of  life.  On  the 
other  hand,  it  is  the  stimulus  to  live  above  the  world.  Hence  while  the 
bare  Stoical  spirit,  in  whatever  form,  produces  only  an  imperfect  and 
repulsive  character,  a  certain  leaven  of  it,  to  say  the  least,  is  necessary : 
else  would  a  man  be  wanting  in  all  effort  and  aspiration  of  mind. 

Sir  Alex.  Grant. 


AD  PAULINUM 


DE  BREVITATE  VITAE. 


I.  Maior  pars  mortalium,  Pauline,  de  naturae  nia- 
lignitate  conqneritur,  quod  in  exiguum  aevi  gignimur, 
quod  haec  tarn  velociter,  tarn  rapide  dati  nobis  tem- 
poris  spatia  decurrant,  adeo  ut  exceptis  admodum 
panels  ceteros  in  ipso  vitae  adparatu  vita  destituat. 
Nee  huic  publico,  ut  opinantur,  malo  turba  tantum 
et  inpudens  volgus  ingemuit  :  clarorum  quoque  vi- 
roruni  liic  adfectus  querelas  evocavit.  Inde  ilia  maxi- 
mi  medicorum  exclamatio  est,  Yitam  hrevem  esse,  Ion- 
gam  artem.  2.  Inde  Aristotelis  cum  rerum  natura 
exigentis  minime  conveniens  sapienti  viro  lis  est :  ait 
istam  anirnalibus  tantum  indulsisse,  ut  quina  aut 
(Lena  secula  educerent  /  homini  in  tarn  multa  ac 
magna  genito  tanto  citeriorem  terminum  stare.  3. 
Hort  exiguum  temporis  habemus,  sed  multum  perdi- 
dirnus.  Satis  longa  vita  et  in  maximarum  rerum 
consummationem  large  data  est,  si  tota  bene  conloca- 
retur.  Sed  ubi  per  luxum  ac  neglegentiam  diffluit, 
ubi  nullae  bonae  rei  inpenditur ;  ultima  demurn  ne¬ 
cessitate  cogente,  quam  ire  non  intelleximus,  transisse 
sentimus.  4.  Ita  est,  noil  accepimus  brevem  vitam, 
sed  fecimus ;  nec  inopes  eius,  sed  prodigi  sumus.  Sic- 


106 


L.  ANNAEI  SENECAE 


lit  amplae  et  regiae  opes,  iibi  ad  malum  dominiim 
pervenernnt,  momento  dissipantur,  at  qiiamvis  modi- 
cae,  si  bono.  custodi  traditae  sunt,  iisu  cresciint :  ita 
aetas  nostra  bene  disponenti  multxim  patet. 

II.  Quid  de  rerum  natiira  qiierimiir  ?  ilia  se  be- 
nigne  gessit :  vita,  si  uti  scias,  loiiga  est.  Alium  in- 
satiabilis  tenet  avaritia,  alium  in  supervacuis  labo- 
ribus  operosa  sedulitas :  alius  vino  madet :  alius  in¬ 
ertia  torpet :  alium  defatigat  ex  alienis  iudiciis  sus- 
pensa  semper  ambitio  :  alium  mercandi  praeceps  cii- 
piditas  circa  omnes  terras,  omnia  maria  spe  lucri 
ducit.  Quosdam  torqiiet  ciipido  militiae  numquam 
non  aiit  alienis  periciilis  intentos  aiit  siiis  anxios ;  sunt 
quos  ingratus  superioriim  cultus  voluntaria  servitute 
consiimat.  2.  Multos  aut  adfectatio  alienae  fortiinae 
aiit  suae  odium  detinuit :  plerosqiie  nihil  certum  se- 
qiientis  vaga  et  inconstans  et  sibi  displicens  levitas  per 
nova  consilia  iactavit.  Quibusdam  nihil,  quo  ciirsum 
dirigant,  placet,  sed  marcentis  oscitantisque  fata  de- 
prehendiint,  adeo  nt  quod  apud  maximum  poetariim 
more  oraciili  dictum  est,  verum  esse  non  diibitem  : 

Exigua  jpar 8  est  vitae  quam  nos  vivimus. 

Ceteriim  qiiidem  omne  spatiiim  non  vita,  sed  tempiis 
est.  3.  Urgentia  circiimstant  vitia  iindiqne  nec  re- 
surgere  aut  in  dispectum  veri  adtollere  oculos  sinunt 
et  mersos  et  in  ciipiditatem  infixes  premunt.  Num¬ 
quam  illis  reciirrere  ad  se  licet,  si  qiiando  aliqiia  for- 
tuito  qiiies  contigit :  veluti  profiindo  mari,  in  quo 
post  ventum  quoque  volutatio  est,  fiuctuantiir  nec 
umqiiam  illis  a  cupiditatibiis  suis  otium  instat.  De 
istis  me  piitas  disserere,  quorum  in  confesso  mala 


DE  BREVITATE  VITAE.  CAP.  III. 


107 


siint  ?  adspice  illos,  ad  quorum  felicitatem  concur- 
ritur  :  bonis  suis  effocantur.  4.  Quam  multis  di- 
vitiae  graves  sunt  ?  quam  multorum  eloquentia  co- 
tidiano  ostentandi  ingenii  spatio  sanguinem  educit  ? 
quam  multi  continuis  voluptatibus  pallent  ?  quam 
multis  niliil  liberi  relinquit  circumfusus  clientium 
populus  ?  Omnis  denique  istos  ab  infimis  usque  ad 
summos  pererra :  liic  advocat,  hie  adest :  ille  pericli- 
tatur,  ille  defendit,  ille  iudicat.  I^emo  se  sibi  vindi- 
cat :  alius  in  alium  consumimur.  5.  Interroga  de 
istis,  quorum  nomina  ediscuntur :  his  illos  dignosci 
videbis  notis :  Ille  illius  cultor  est,  hie  illius :  suus 
nemo  est.  Deinde  dementissima  quorumdam  indig- 
natio  est  :  queruntur  de  superiorum  fastidio,  quod 
ipsis  adire  volentibus  non  vaeaverint.  Audet  quis- 
quam  de  alterius  superbia  queri,  qui  sibi  ipse  num- 
quam  vaeat  ?  Ille  tamen  te,  quisquis  est,  insolent! 
quidem  voltu,  sed  aliquando  respexit :  ille  aures  suas 
ad  tua  verba  demisit ;  ille  te  ad  latus  suum  reeepit : 
tu  non  inspieere  te  umquam,  non  audire  dignatus  es. 

III.  Kon  est  itaque,  quod  ista  otiieia  euiquam  in- 
putes ;  quoniam  quidem,  cum  ilia  faceres,  non  esse 
cum  aliquo  volebas,  sed  tecum  esse  non  poteras. 
Omnia  licet  quae  umquam  ingenia  fulserunt  in  hoc 
unum  consentiant,  numquam  satis  hanc  humanarum 
mentium  caliginem  mirabuntur.  Praedia  sua  occu- 
pari  a  nullo  patiuntur  et,  si  exigua  contentio  est  de 
modo  finium,  ad  lapides  et  arma  discurrunt :  in  vitam 
suam  incedere  alios  sinunt,  immo  vero  ipsi  etiam 
possessores  eius  futuros  inducunt.  Nemo  invenitur, 
qui  pecuniam  suam  dividere  velit  :  vitam  unusquis- 
qtie  quam  multis  distribuit  ?  2.  Adstricti  sunt  in 


108 


L.  ANNAEI  SENECAE 


continendo  patrimonio,  simul  ad  iacturam  teraporis 
ventum  est,  profusissimi  in  eo,  cuius  uiiius  honesta 
avaritia  est.  Libet  itaque  ex  seniorum  turba  conpre- 
liendere  aliquem.  Pervenisse  te  ad  ultimum  aetatis 
huinanae  videmus :  centesimus  tibi  vel  supra  prerni- 
tur  annus :  agedum,  ad  conputationem  aetatem  tuam 
revoca.  Difc,  quantum  ex  isto  tempore  creditor,  quan¬ 
tum  arnica,  quantum  rex,  quantum  cliens  abstulerit : 
quantum  lis  uxoria,  quantum  servorum  coercitio,  quan- 
^tum  officiosa  per  urbem  discursatio.  3.  Adicie  morbos, 
quos  manu  fecimus :  adice  quod  et  sine  usu  iacuit : 
videbis  te  pauciores  annos  habere  quam  numeras. 
Pepete  rnemoria  tecum,  quando  certus  consilii  fueris ; 
quotus  quisque  dies  ut  destinaveras  recesserit ;  quando 
tibi  usus  tui  fuerit ;  quando  in  statu  suo  voltus,  quan¬ 
do  animus  intrepid  us ;  quid  tibi  in  tarn  longo  aevo 
facti  operis  sit;  quam  multi  vitam  tuam  diripuerint 
te  non  sentiente  quid  perderes;  quantum  vanus  do¬ 
lor,  stulta  laetitia,  avida  cupiditas,  blanda  conversa- 
tio  abstulerit ;  quam  exiguum  tibi  de  tuo  relictum 
sit :  intelleges  te  inmaturum  mori. 

lY.  Quid  ergo  est  in  causa  ?  tamquam  semper  victu- 
ri  vivitis :  numquam  vobis  fragilitas  vestra  succurrit : 
non  observatis,  quantum  iam  temporis  transient :  vel- 
ut  ex  pleno  et  abundanti  perditis,  cum  interim  for- 
tasse  ille  ipse  qui  alicui  vel  homini  vel  rei  donatur 
dies  ultimiis  sit.  Omnia  tamquam  mortales  timetis, 
omnia  tamquam  inmortales  concupiscitis.  Audios 
plerosque  dicentes ;  A  quinquagesimo  anno  in  otium 
secedam :  sexagesimus  me  annus  ab  officiis  dimittet. 
Et  quern  tandem  longioris  vitae  praedem  accipis  ?  quis 
ista  sicut  disponis  ire  patietur  ?  2.  Non  pudet  te  re- 


DE  BREVITATE  VITAE.  CAP.  V. 


109 


liquias  vitae  tibi  reservare  et  id  solum  tempiis  bonae 
meiiti  destinare,  quod  in  nullam  rein  conferri  possit  ? 
Quam  serum  est  tunc  vivere  incipere,  cum  desinen- 
dum  est  ?  quae  tarn  stulta  mortal! tatis  oblivio  in  quin- 
quagesimum  et  sexagesimum  annum  differre  sana  con- 
silia  et  inde  velle  vitam  inclioare,  quo  pauci  perduxe- 
runt  ?  3.  Potentissimis  et  in  altum  sublatis  liomini- 

bus  excidere  voces  videbis,  quibus  otium  optent,  lau- 
dent,  omnibus  bonis  suis  praeferant.  Cupiunt  inte¬ 
rim  ex  illo  fastigio  suo,  si  tuto  liceat,  descendere. 
Nam  ut  nibil  extra  lacessat  aut  quatiat :  in  te  ipsa 
fortiina  ruit. 

Y.  Divus  Augustus,  cui  di  plura  quam  ulli  praesti- 
terunt,  non  desiit  quietem  sibi  precari  et  vacationem 
a  republica  petere.  Omnis  eius  sermo  ad  hoc  semper 
revolutus  est,  ut  speraret  otium.  Hoc  labores  suos, 
etiam  si  falso,  dulci  tamen  oblectabat  solatio,  aliquan- 
do  se  victurum  sibi.  In  quadam  ad  senatum  missa 
epistula,  cum  requiem  suam  non  vacuam  fore  digni¬ 
tatis  nec  a  priore  gloria  discrepantem  pollicitus  esset, 
haec  verba  inveni :  2.  Sed  ista  fieri  sjpeciosius  quam 
promitti  possunt  :  me  tamen  cupido  temporis  op- 
tatisswii  mihi  provexit,  ut  quoniam  rerum  laetitia 
moratur  adhuo,  perciperem  aliquid  voluptatis  ex 
verborum  didcedine.  Tanta  visa  est  res  otium,  ut  il- 
1am,  quia  usu  non  poterat,  cogitatione  praesumeret. 
Qui  omnia  videbat  ex  se  uno  pendentia,  qui  homini- 
bus  gentibusque  fortunam  dabat,  ilium  diem  laetissi- 
mus  cogitabat,  quo  rnagnitudinem  suam  exueret.  3. 
Expert  us  erat,  quantum  ilia  bona  per  omnes  terras 
fulgentia  sudoris  exprimerent,  quantum  occultarum 
sollicitudinum  tegerent :  cum  civibus  primum,  deinde 


110 


L,  ANNAEI  SENECAE 


ciim  collegis,  novissime  cum  adfinibiis  coactus  armis 
decernere  mari  terraque  sangiiiuem  f  udit :  per  Ma- 
cedoniam,  Sicilian!,  Aegyptiim,  Syrian!  Asiainqne  et 
omnis  prope  eras  bello  circnmactus  Romana  caede 
lassos  exercitiis  ad  externa  bella  convertit.  4.  Dnrn 
Alpes  placat  inmixtosque  mediae  paci  et  imperio 
hostes  perdomat,  dum  ultra  Rheniim  et  Eupbraten  et 
Danubium  terminos  movet,  in  ipsa  urbe  Murenae, 
Caepionis,  Lepidi,  Egnatiorum  in  eum  mucrones  acu- 
ebantur.  Nondum  horum  effngerat  insidias :  filia  et 
tot  nobiles  iuvenes  adnlterio  velut  Sacramento  adacti 
iam  infractam  aetatem  territabant :  plusque  et  iterum 
timenda  cum  Antonio  mulier.  5.  Haec  ulcera  cum 
ipsis  membris  absciderat ;  alia  subnascebantur :  velut 
grave  multo  sanguine  corpus,  partes  semper  aliquae 
rumpebantur.  Itaque  otium  optabat :  in  huius  spe 
et  cogitatione  labores  eius  residebant :  hoc  votum  erat 
eius,  qui  voti  conpotes  facere  poterat.  Marcus  Cicero 
inter  Catilinas,  Clodios  iactatus  Pompeiosque  et  Gras¬ 
ses,  partim  manifestos  inimicos,  partim  dubios  amicos, 
dum  fluctnatur  cum  republica  et  illam  pessum  euntem 
tenet,  novissime  abductus,  nec  secundis  rebus  quietus 
nec  adversarum  patiens,  quotiens  ilium  ipsum  consula- 
tum  suum  non  sine  causa,  sed  sine  fine  laudatum  de- 
testatur  ?  6.  Quam  fiebiles  voces  exprimit  in  quadam 

ad  Atticum  epistula  iam  victo  patre  Pompeio,  adliuc 
filio  in  Hispania  fracta  arma  refovente  ?  Quid  agarn^ 
inquit,  hie  quaeris  f  moror  in  Tusculano  meo  semi- 
liber.  Alia  deinceps  adicit,  quibus  et  priorem  aeta¬ 
tem  conplorat  et  de  praesenti  queritur  et  de  futura 
desperat.  Semiliberum  se  dixit  Cicero :  at  meliercu- 
les  numquam  sapiens  in  tarn  liumile  nomen  procedet, 


^  DE  BKEVITATE  VITAE.  CAP.  VI.  Ill 

niimquam  semiliber  erit ;  iiitegrae  semper  libertatis 
et  solidae,  solutiis,  et  siii  iuris  et  altior  ceteris.  Quid 
enim  supra  eum  potest  esse,  qui  supra  fort qu am  est  ? 

YI.  Livius  Drusus,  vir  acer  et  veliemens,  cum  leges 
novas  et  mala  Gracchana  movisset,  stipatus  ingenti 
totius  Italiae  coetu,  exitum  rerum  non  pervidens,  quas 
nec  agere  licebat  nec  iam  liberum  erat  semel  inclioafas 
relinquere,  exsecratus  inquietam  a  primordiis  vitam 
dicitur  dixisse,  Uni  sibi  ne  jpuero  qnidem  umquam 
ferias  contigisse.  Ausus  est  enim  et  pupillus  adhuc 
et  praetextatus  iudicibus  reos  commendare  et  gratiam 
suam  foro  interponere  tarn  efficaciter  quidem,  ut  qnae- 
dam  indicia  constet  ab  illo  rapta.  2.  Quo  non  ernm- 
peret  tarn  inmatura  ambitio  ?  scires  in  malum  ingens 
et  privatum  et  publicum  evasuram  praecoquem  auda- 
ciam.  Sero  itaque  querebatur  nullas  sibi  ferias  conti¬ 
gisse  a  puero  seditiosus  et  foro  gravis.  Disputatur, 
an  ipse  sibi  manus  adtulerit :  subito  enim  volnere  per 
inguen  accepto  conlapsus  est,  aliquo  dubitante,  an  mors 
eius  voluntaria  esset,  nullo,  an  tempestiva.  3.  Super¬ 
vacuum  est  commemorare  plures  qui,  cum  aliis  felicis- 
simi  viderentur,  ipsi  in  se  verum  testimoniam  dixerunt, 
perosi  omnem  actum  annornm  suorum.  Sed  bis  que- 
relis  nec  alios  mutaverunt  nec  se  ipsos.  Kam  cum 
verba  erupernnt,  adfectus  ad  consuetudinem  relabun- 
tur.  Yestra  meliercules  vita,  licet  supra  mille  annos 
exeat,  in  artissimum  contrahetur.  Ista  vitia  nullum 
non  seculum  devorabunt  :  hoc  vero  spatium  quod, 
quamvis  natura  currit,  ratio  dilatat,  cito  vos  effugiat 
necesse  est.  4.  Non  enim  adprebenditis  nec  retinetis 
nec  velocissimae  omnium  rei  moram  facitis,  sed  abire 
ut  rem  supervacuam  ac  reparabilem  sinitis.  In  primis 


112 


L.  ANNAEI  SENEOAE 


autem  et  illos  inimero,  qni  niilli  rei  nisi  vino  ac  libidini 
vacant :  niilli  enim  turpiiis  occnpati  sunt :  ceteri  et- 
iam  si  vana  gloriae  imagine  teneantiir,  speciose  tamen 
errant.  5.  Licet  avaros  mihi,  licet  vel  iracundos  enume- 
res  vel  odia  exercentes  iniusta  vel  bella  :  omnes  isti  vi- 
rilius  peccant:  in  Yenerem  ac  libidinem  proiectorum 
inbonesta  tabes  est.  Omnia  istorum  tempora  excute : 
adspice  qiiamdiii  conputent,  quamdiu  insidientur, 
quamdiu  timeant,  quamdiu  colant,  quamdiu  colantur, 
quantum  vadimonia  sua  atque  aliena  occupent,  quan¬ 
tum  convivia,  quae  iarn  ipsa  officia  sunt :  videbis,  quem- 
admodum  illos  respirare  non  sinant  vel  mala  sua  vel 
bona.  6.  Denique  inter  omnes  convenit  nullani  rem 
bene  exerceri  posse  ab  liomine  occupato,  non  eloquen- 
tiam,  non  liberates  disciplinas,  quando  districtus  ani¬ 
mus  nihil  altius  recipit,  sed  omnia  velut  inculcata  re- 
spuit.  Nihil  minus  est  horn  inis  occupati  quam  vivere  : 
nullius  rei  difficilior  scientia  est. 

YII.  Professores  aliariim  artium  volgo  multiqiie 
sunt :  quasdam  vero  ex  his  pueri  admodum  ita  perce- 
pisse  visi  sunt,  ut  etiarn  praecipere  possent :  vivere 
tota  vita  discendum  est  et,  quod  magis  fortasse  mira- 
bere,  tota  vita  discendum  est  mori.  Tot  maximi  viri 
relictis  omnibus  inpedimentis,  cum  divitiis,  officiis, 
voluptatibus  renuntiassent,  hoc  unum  in  extremam 
usque  aetatem  egerunt,  ut  vivere  scirent :  plures  ta¬ 
men  ex  his  nondum  se  scire  confessi.  vita  abierunt ; 
nedum  ut  isti  sciant.  2.  Magni,  mihi  crede,  et  supra 
humanos  errores  emineiitis  viri  est  nihil  ex  suo  tem¬ 
pore  delibari  sinere :  et  ideo  eius  vita  longissima  est, 
quia,  quantumcumque  patuit,  totum  ipsi  vacavit.  Ni¬ 
hil  inde  incultum  otiosumque  iacuit,  nihil  siib  alio 


DE  BEEVITATE  VITAE.  CAP.  VII. 


113 


fait  :  neqne  enim  qnicquam  reperit  dignum,  quod 
cum  tempore  suo  permutaret  custos  eius  parcissimus. 
Itaque  satis  illi  f  uit :  liis  vero  necesse  est  defuisse,  ex 
quorum  vita  multnm  populns  tulit.  3.  Nec  est  quod 
pntes  liiiic  illos  aliquando  iiitellegere  damnum  suum : 
plerosque  certe  audios  ex  Ins,  quos  magna  felicitas 
gravat,  inter  clientium  greges  aut  causaruni  actiones 
aut  ceteras  honestas  miserias  exclarnare  interdum,  Yi- 
vere  inihi  non  licet.  Quidni  non  liceat  ?  omnes  illi, 
qui  te  sibi  advocant,  tibi  abducunt.  Ille  reus  quot 
dies  abstulit  ?  quot  ille  candidatiis  ?  quot  ilia  anus  ef- 
ferendis  lieredibus  lassa  ?  quot  ille  ad  inritandam  ava- 
ritiam  captantium  simulatus  aeger  ?  quot  ille  potentior 
amicus,  qui  vos  non  in  amicitiam,  sed  in  adparatu  lia- 
bet  ?  4.  Dispunge,  inquam,  et  recense  vitae  tuae  dies  : 

videbis  paucos  admodum  et  reiculos  apud  te  resedisse. 
Adsecutus  ille  quos  optaverat  fasces  cupit  ponere  et 
subinde  dicit,  Quando  liic  annus  praeteribit  ?  Facit 
ille  ludos,  quorum  sortem  sibi  obtingere  magno  aesti- 
mavit :  Quando,  inquit,  istos  effugiam  ?  Diripitur  ille 
toto  foro  patronus  et  magno  concursu  omnia  ultra, 
quam  audiri  potest,  couplet :  Quando,  inquit,  res  pro- 
ferentur  ?  5.  Praecipitat  quisque  vitam  suam  et  fu- 

turi  desiderio  laborat,  pi-aesentinm  taedio.  At  ille  qui 
nullum  non  tempus  in  usiis  suos  confert,  qui  omnes 
dies  tamquam  vitam  ordinat,  nec  optat  crastinum  nec 
timet.  Quid  enim  est,  quod  iam  ulla  bora  novae  vo- 
luptatis  possit  adferre  ?  omnia  nota,  omnia  ad  satieta- 
tem  percepta  sunt.  De  cetero  fors  fortuna,  ut  volet, 
ordinet :  vita  iam  in  tuto  est :  liuic  adici  potest,  de- 
trahi  nihil :  et  adici  sic,  quemadmodum  saturo  iam  ac 
pleno  aliquid  cibi :  qui  quod  nec  desiderat  capit. 


114 


L.  ANNAEI  SENECAE 


yill.  Non  est  itaque  qnod  quern qnara  propter  ca¬ 
ll  os  aut  rugas  putes  diu  yixisse :  [non  ille  din  vixit, 
sed]  din  fuit.  Quid  enim,  si  ilium  multum  putes  na- 
vigasse,  quern  saeva  tempestas  a  portu  exceptum  hue 
et  illuc  tulit  ac  vicibus  ventorum  ex  diverse  furen- 
tium  per  eadein  spatia  in  orbem  egit  ?  non  ille  mul¬ 
tum  navigavit,  sed  multum  iactatus  est.  Mirari  soleo, 
cum  video  aliquos  tempus  petentes  et  eos,  qui  rogan- 
tur,  facillimos.  2.  Illud  uterque  spectat,  propter  quod 
tempus  petitum  est;  ipsum  quidem  neuter.  Quasi 
nihil  petitur,  quasi  nihil  datur,  res  omnium  pretiosissi- 
ma  luditur.  Fallit  autem  illos,  quia  res  incorporalis 
est,  quia  sub  oculos  non  venit ;  ideoque  vilissima 
aestimatur,  immo  paene  nullum  eius  pretium  est.  An¬ 
nua  congiaria  homines  carissime  accipiunt  et  his  aut 
laborem  aut  operam  aut  diligentiam  suam  locant : 
nemo  aestimat  tempus  :  utuntur  illo  laxius  quasi 
gratuito.  3.  At  eosdem  aegros  vide,  si  mortis  peri- 
culum  propius  est  admotum,  medicorum  genua  tan- 
gentes :  si  metuunt  capitale  supplicium,  omnia  sua, 
ut  vivant,  paratos  inpendere :  tanta  in  illis  discordia 
adfectuum  est.  Quodsi  posset  quemadmodum  prae- 
teritorum  annorum  cui usque  numerus  proponi,  sic  fu- 
turorum :  quomodo  illi,  qui  paucos  viderent  superesse, 
trepidarent,  quomodo  illis  parcerent?  Atqui  facile  est 
quamvis  exiguum  dispensare  quod  certum  est :  id  de¬ 
bet  servari  diligentins,  quod  nescias  quando  deficiat. 
4.  Nec  est  tamen,  quod  putes  illos  ignorare,  quam 
cara  res  sit.  Dicere  solent  eis,  quos  valdissime  di- 
ligunt,  paratos  se  partem  annorum  suorum  dare. 
l)aut  nec  intellegunt:  dant  autem  ita,  ut  sine  illo- 
rum  incremento  sibi  detrahant  :  sed  hoc  ipsum  an 


DE  BREVITATE  VITAE.  CAP.  IX. 


115 


detrahant  nesciiint:  ideo  tolerabilis  est  illis  iactura 
detrimenti  latentis.  Nemo  restitiiet  aimos,  nemo 
iteriim  te  tibi  reddet.  5.  Ibit,  qua  coepit,  aetas  nec 
cursiim  suum  ant  revocabit  ant  supprimet :  nihil  tu- 
mnltnabitnr,  nihil  admonebit  velocitatis  suae  :  tacita 
labetur.  Non  ilia  se  regis  imperioj  non  favore  populi 
longius  proferet :  sicut  missa  est  a  primo  die,  cnrret : 
nusqnam  devertetur,  nusqnarn  remorabitiir.  Quid  het? 
tu  occnpatus  es,  vita  festinat :  mors  interim  aderit  cui, 
velis  nolis,  vacandnm  est. 

IX.  Potestne  quisquam,  dico  hominum  eorum  qui 
prudentiam  iactant  operosius  occupati  sunt,  quam  ut 
melius  possint  vivere  ?  Inpendio  vitae  vitam  in- 
struunt,  cogitationes  siias  in  longum  ordinant.  Maxi¬ 
ma  porro  vitae  iactura  dilatio  est :  ilia  primum  quem- 
que  extrahit  diem,  ilia  eripit  praesentia,  dum  ulterio- 
ra  promittit.  Maximum  vivendi  inpedimentum  est 
exspectatio,  quae  pendet  ex  crastino.  Perdis  hodier- 
num  :  quod  in  manu  fortunae  positum  est,  disponis, 
quod  in  tua,  dimittis.  Quo  spectas,  quo  te  extendis? 
omnia  quae  ventura  sunt,  in  incerto  iacent :  protinus 
vive.  2.  Clamat  ecce  maximus  vates  et  velut  divino 
ore  instinctus  salutare  carmen  canit : 

Ojptima  qiiaeque  dies  miseris  mortalibus  aevi 

Prima  fugit. 

Quid  cunctaris,  inquit,  quid  cessas?  Nisi  occupas,  fu¬ 
git,  et  cum  occupaveris,  tameii  fugiet.  Itaque  cum 
celeritate  temporis  utendi  velocitate  certandum  est  et 
velut  ex  torrenti  rapid o  nec  semper  ituro  cito  haurien- 
dum.  Hoc  quoqiie  pulcherrime  ad  exprobrandam  in- 
linitam  cogitationem,  quod  non  optimam  quamque 


116 


L.  ANNAEI  SENECAE 


aetateiri,  sed  diem  dicit.  3.  Quid  securns  et  in  tanta 
teinporiim  fiiga  lentus  menses  tibi  et  aim  os  et  Ion- 
gam  seriem,  utciimqiie  aviditati  tiiae  \dsiim  est,  ex- 
porrigis?  de  die  tecum  locpiitur  et  de  lioc  ipso  fugi- 
eiite.  Non  du.bium  est  ergo,  quin  prima  quaeque 
optima  dies  fugiat  mortalibus  miseris,  id  est  occupa- 
tis  :  quorum  pueriles  adliuc  animos  senectus  opprimit, 
ad  quam  inparati  inermesque  perveniunt.  4.  Niliil 
enim  provisum  est :  subito  in  illam  nee  opinantes 
inciderunt  :  accedere  earn  cotidie  non  sentiebant. 
Quemadmodum  aut  sermo  aut  lectio  aut  aliqua  in- 
tentior  cogitatio  iter  facientis  decipit  et  pervenisse 
ante  sciunt  quam  adpropinquasse  :  sic  lioc  iter  vitae 
adsiduum  et  citatissimum,  quod  vigilantes  dormientes- 
que  eodem  gradu  facimus,  occupatis  non  adparet  nisi 
in  tine. 

X.  Quod  proposui  si  in  partes  velim  et  argumenta 
diducere,  multa  mihi  occurrent,  per  quae  probem  bre- 
vissimam  esse  occupatorum  vitam.  Solebat  dicere 
Fabianus,  non  ex  his  cathedrariis  philosopliis,  sed  ex 
veris  et  antiquis,  Contra  adfectus  injjetti,  non  snbtili- 
tate  jpugnandiim^  nec  minutis  volneribns,  sed  incursu 
avertendam  aciem  non  jgrobam  :  cavillationes  enim 
contundi  debere^  non  vellicari.  Tamen  ut  illis  error 
exprobretur  suus,  docendi,  non  tantum  deplorandi  sunt. 
2.  In  tria  tempora  vita  dividitur :  quod  fuit,  quod  est, 
quod  futurum  est.  Ex  his  quod  agimus,  breve  est, 
quod  acturi  sumus,  dubium,  quod  egirnus,  certurn. 
Hoc  est  enim,  in  quod  fortuna  ins  perdidit,  quod  in 
nullius  arbitrium  reduci  potest.  Hoc  amittiint  occu- 
pati :  nec  enim  illis  vacat  praeterita  rcspicere,  et  si 
vacet,  iniucimda  est  poenitendae  rei  recordatio.  In- 


DE  BREVITATE  VITAE.  CAP.  X. 


117 


viti  itaque  ad  tempera  male  exacta  animum  revocant 
iieo  ancient  ea  retemptare,  quorum  vitia,  etiam  quae 
alicpio  praesentis  voluptatis  lenocinio  subripiebantiir, 
retractando  patescimt.  Nemo,  nisi  a  quo  omnia  acta 
sunt  sub  censura  sua,  quae  numquam  fallitiir,  libenter 
se  in  praeteritum  retorquet.  3.  Ille  qui  multa  am- 
bitiose  concupiit,  superbe  contempsit,  inpotenter  vicit, 
insidiose  decepit,  avare  rapuit,  prodige  effudit,  necesse 
est  memoriam  suam  timeat.  Atqui  baec  est  pars 
temporis  nostri  sacra  ac  dedicata,  omnes  humanos 
casus  supergressa,  extra  regnum  fortunae  subducta, 
quam  non  inopia,  non  metus,  non  morborum  incur- 
sus  exagitet.  4.  Ilaec  nec  turbari  nec  eripi  potest : 
perpetua  eius  et  intrepida  possessio  est.  Singuli  tan- 
tum  dies,  et  hi  per  momenta,  praesentes  sunt:  at  prae- 
teriti  temporis  omnes,  cum  iusseris,  aderunt,  ad  arbitri- 
um  tuum  inspici  se  ac  detineri  patientur ;  quod  facere 
occupatis  non  vacat.  Securae  et  quietae  mentis  est 
in  omnes  vitae  suae  partes  discurrere :  occupatorum 
animi,  velut  sub  ingo  sint,  flectere  se  ac  respicere  non 
possunt.  5.  Abit  igitur  vita  eorum  in  profimdum  et 
ut  nihil  prodest,  licet  qnantumlibet  ingeras,  si  non 
subest,  quod  excipiat  ac  servet,  sic  niliil  refert  quan¬ 
tum  temporis  detur,  si  non  est,  ubi  subsidat  :  per 
quassos  foratosque  animos  transmittitur.  6.  Praesens 
tempus  brevissimum  est,  adeo  quidem,  ut  quibusdam 
nullum  videatur :  in  cursu  enim  semper  est,  fluit  et 
praecipitatur :  ante  desinit  esse  quam  venit ;  nec  ma- 
gis  moram  patitur  quam  mundus  aut  sidera,  quorum 
inrequieta  semper  agitatio  numquam  in  eodem  ves- 
tigio  manet.  Solum  igitur  ad  occupatos  praesens 
pertinet  tempus  ;  quod  tarn  breve  est,  ut  adripi 

F 


118 


L.  AHNAEI  SENECAE 


non  possit,  et  id  ipsum  illis  districtis  in  multa  snb- 
diicitiir. 

XL  Deniqiie  vis  scire  qnam  non  diu  vivant  ?  vide 
quam  cupiant  din  vivere.  Decrepiti  senes  paucornm 
annornm  accessionem  votis  mendicant:  minores  natu 
ipsos  esse  fingnnt :  mendacio  sibi  blandiuntnr  et  tarn 
libenter  se  fallunt  qnam  si  una  fata  decipiant.  Iain 
vero  cnm  ill  os  aliqna  inbecillitas  mortal!  tatis  admo- 
nuit,  qnemadmodum  paventes  moriuntnr,  non  tam- 
qnam  exeant  de  vita,  sed  tamqnam  extrahantur  ? 
stnltos  se  fnisse,  ut  non  vixerint,  clamitant  et,  si 
modo  evaserint  ex  ilia  valitndine,  in  otio  victnros. 
2.  Time  qnam  frnstra  paraverint,  qnibus  non  frn- 
erentnr,  quam  incassnm  omnis  ceciderit  labor,  cogi- 
tant.  At  qiiibus  vita  procnl  ab  omni  negotio  agitnr, 
qiiidni  spatiosa  sit?  nihil  ex  ilia  delegatnr,  nihil  alio 
atqne  alio  spargitur,  nihil  inde  fortnnae  traditnr, 
nihil  neglegentia  interit,  nihil  largitione  detrahitur, 
nihil  snpervacnnm  est :  tota,  nt  ita  dicam,  in  reditn 
est.  Qnantnlaenmqne  itaqne  abunde  snfficit  et  ideo, 
quandoqne  nltimns  dies  venerit,  non  ennetabitnr  sa¬ 
piens  ire  ad  mortem  certo  gradn.  3.  Qnaeris  fortasse, 
qnos  ocenpatos  vocem  ?  non  est  quod  me  solos  pntes 
dicere,  qnos  a  basilica  inmissi  demnm  canes  eiciunt, 
qnos  aut  in  sna  vides  tnrba  speciosins  elidi  aut  in 
aliena  contemptius,  quos  ofiicia  domibus  suis  evocant, 
ut  alienis  foribns  inlidant,  qnos  hasta  praetoris  infami 
lucro  et  qnandoqne  suppuraturo  exercet.  Quorum- 
dam  otium  ocenpatnm  est :  in  villa  aut  in  lecto  sno, 
in  media  solitudine,  quam  vis  ab  omnibus  recesserint, 
sibi  ipsi  molest!  sunt:  quorum  non  otiosa  vita  dicen- 
da  est,  sed  desidiosa  occupatio. 


DE  BREVITATE  VITAE.  CAP.  XII. 


119 


XII.  Ilium  tu  otiosnm  vocas  qui  Corintliia,  pauco- 
rum  furore  pretiosa,  anxia  subtilitate  concinnat  et 
inaiorem  dieriim  partem  in  aeruginosis  laraellis  coii- 
sumit  ?  qiii  in  ceromate  (nam,  proli  facinus,  ne  Ro¬ 
manis  qnidem  vitiis  laboramus)  sectator  puerorum 
rixantium  sedet  ?  qui  vinctorum  suornm  greges  in 
aetatiiim  et  colorum  paria  diducit  ?  qui  atbletas  no- 
vissimos  pascit  ?  Quid  ?  illos  otiosos  vocas,  quibus 
apiid  tonsorem  multae  tiorae  transmittuntur,  dum 
decerpitur,  si  quid  proxima  nocte  succrevit,  dum  de 
singulis  capillis  in  consilium  itur,  dum  aut  disiecta 
coma  restituitur  aut  deficiens  bine  atque  illinc  in 
frontem  conpellitur  ?  2.  Quomodo  irascuntur,  si  ton- 

sor  paulo  neglegentior  fuit,  tamquam  virum  tonde- 
ret  ?  Quomodo  excandescunt,  si  quid  ex  iuba  sua 
decisum  est,  si  quid  extra  ordinem  iacuit,  nisi  otimia 
in  aimlos  sues  reciderunt  ?  Quis  est  istorum  qui  non 
malit  rempublicam  suam  turbari  quam  comam  ?  qui 
non  sollicitior  sit  de  capitis  sui  decore  quam  de  sa¬ 
lute  ?  qui  non  comptior  esse  malit  quam  lionestior? 
IIos  tu  otiosos  vocas  inter  pectinem  speculumque 
occupatos  ?  3.  Quid  illi  qui  in  conponendis,  audi- 

endis,  dicendis  canticis  operati  sunt ;  dum  vocem,  cu¬ 
ius  rectum  cursum  natura  et  optimum  et  simplicissi- 
mum  fecit,  inflexu  modulationis  inertissimae  torquent  ? 
Quorum  digiti  aliquod  intra  se  carmen  metientes 
semper  sonant  ;  quorum,  cum  ad  res  serias,  saepe 
etiani  tristes  adhibiti  sunt,  exauditur  tacita  modula- 
tio  ?  non  liabent  isti  otium,  sed  iners  negotium.  4. 
Con vi via  mebercules  liorum  non  posuerim  inter  va¬ 
cantia  tempora,  cum  videam,  quam  solliciti  argen¬ 
tum  ordinent,  quam  diligeiiter  exoletorum  suorurn 


120 


L.  ANNAEI  SENECAE 


tunicas  succingaut,  quam  suspeusi  siut  qiiomodo  aper 
a  coco  exeat,  quanta  celeritate  signo  date  glabri  ad 
ministeria  discurrant,  quanta  arte  scindantur  aves  in 
frusta  non  enormia,  quam  curiose  infelices  pueruli 
ebriorum  sputa  detergeant.  Ex  bis  elegantiae  lau- 
titiaeque  fama  captatur  et  usque  eo  in  omnes  vitae 
secessus  mala  sua  illos  sequuntur,  ut  nec  bibant  sine 
ambitione  nec  edant.  5.  Ne  illos  quidem  inter  otio- 
sos  numeraveris,  qui  sella  se  et  lectica  hue  et  illuc 
ferunt  et  ad  gestationum  suarum,  quasi  deserere  illas 
non  liceat,  boras  occurrunt:  quos  quando  lavari  de¬ 
bean  t,  quando  natare,  quando  coenare,  alius  admonet;- 
et  usque  eo  nimio  delicati  animi  languore  solvuntur, 
ut  per  se  scire  non  possint,  an  esuriant.  6.  Audio 
quemdam  ex  delicatis  (si  modo  deliciae  vocandae  sunt 
vitam  et  consuetudinem  humanam  dediscere),  cum  ex 
balneo  inter  manus  elatus  et  in  sella  positus  esset, 
dixisse  interrogando,  lam  sedeo  f  Hunc  tu  ignoran- 
tem,  an  sedeat,  putas  scire  an  vivat,  an  videat,  an 
otiosus  sit  ?  non  facile  dixerim,  utrum  magis  miserear, 
si  hoc  ignoravit,  an  si  ignorare  se  finxit.  7.  Multa- 
rum  quidem  rerum  oblivionem  sentiunt,  sed  multarum 
et  imitantur :  quaedam  vitia  illos,  quasi  felicitatis  ar- 
giimenta,  delectant.  Nimis  bumilis  et  contempt!  bo- 
minis  videtur  scire  quid  faciat.  I  nunc  et  mimos 
multa  mentiri  ad  exprobrandam  luxuriam  puta.  Plu- 
ra  mehercules  praetereunt  quam  fingunt  et  taiita  in- 
credibilium  vitiorum  copia  ingenioso  in  hoc  unum 
seculo  processit,  ut  iam  mimorum  arguere  possimus 
neglegentiam.  Esse  aliquem,  qui  usque  eo  deliciis 
interierit,  ut  an  sedeat  alteri  credat? 

XIII.  Non  est  ergo  bic  otiosus :  aliud  nomen  in- 


DE  BEEVITATE  VITAE.  CAP.  XIII.  121 

ponas :  aeger  est,  immo  mortniis  est.  Ille  otiosus  est, 
cui  otii  STii  et  sensns  est :  hie  vero  semivivnSj  ciii  ad 
intellegendos  corporis  siii  habitus  indice  opus  est : 
quomodo  potest  hie  ullius  temporis  dominus  esse  ? 
Persequi  singulos  longum  est,  quorum  aut  latrunculi 
aut  pila  aut  excoquendi  in  sole  corporis  cura  con- 
sumpsere  vitam.  2.  E^on  sunt  otiosi,  quorum  volupta- 
tes  multum  negotii  habent.  I^am  de  illis.  nemo  du- 
bitabit,  quin  operose  nihil  agant,  qui  literarum  inu- 
tilium  studiis  detinentur ;  quae  iam  apud  Eomanos 
quoque  magna  manus  est.  Graecorum  iste  morbus 
fuit  quaerere,  quern  numerum  Ulixes  remigum  ha- 
buisset :  prior  scripta  esset,  Ilias  an  Odyssea :  praeter- 
ea  an  eiusdem  esset  auctoris  :  alia  deinceps  huius 
notae ;  quae  sive  con  tineas,  nihil  tacitam  conscientiam 
iuvant,  sive  proferas,  non  doctior  videaris,  sed  moles- 
tior.  3.  Ecce  Romanos  quoque  invasit  inane  studium 
supervacua  discendi.  Ilis  diebus  audivi  quemdam 
referentem,  quae  primus  quisque  ex  Romanis  ducibus 
fecisset.  Primus  navali  proelio  Duillius  vicit,  primus 
Curius  Dentatus  in  triumpho  duxit  elephantos.  Et- 
iamnunc  ista,  etsi  ad  veram  gloriam  non  tendunt,  circa 
civilium  tamen  operum  exempla  versantur.  4.  Ron 
est  profutura  talis  scientia ;  est  tamen,  quae  nos  spe- 
ciosa  rernm  vanitate  detineat.  Hoc  quoque  quae- 
rentibus  remittamus,  quis  Romanis  primus  persuaserit 
navem  conscendere?  Claudius  is  fuit,  Caudex  ob  hoc 
ipsiim  adpellatus,  quia  plurium  tabularum  contextus 
caudex  apud  antiques  vocatur;  unde  publicae  tabulae 
codices  dicuntur  et  naves  nunc  quoque,  quae  ex  anti- 
qua  consuetudine  commeatus  per  Tiber! m  subvehunt, 
codicariae  vocantur.  5.  Sane  et  hoc  ad  rem^  pertineat, 


122 


L.  ANNAEI  SENEOAE 


quod  Valerius  Corvimis  primus  Messanam  yicit  et 
primus  ex  f  am  ilia  Valeriornm  iirbis  captae  in  se 
translate  nomine  Messana  adpellatus  est  panlatim- 
que  volgo  permntante  ,literas  Messalla  dictus.  l^urn 
et  hoc  ciiiqnam  curare  permittes,  quod  primus  L. 
Sulla  in  circo  leones  solntos  dedit,  cum  alioquin  ad- 
ligati  darentur,  ad  conficiendos  eos  missis  a  rege 
Boccho  iaculatoribus  ?  et  hoc  sane  remittatur.  6. 
Num  et  Pompeium  primum  in  circo  elephantornm 
duodeviginti  pngnam  edidisse  commissis  more  proelii 
noxiis  hominibus  ad  ullam  rem  bonam  pertinet  ? 
Princeps  civitatis  et  inter  antiques  principes,  ut 
fama  tradidit,  bonitatis  eximiae,  memorabile  putavit 
spectaculi  genus  novo  more  perdere  homines.  De- 
pngnant  ?  parum  est :  lancinantur  ?  parum  est :  in- 
genti  mole  animalium  exterantur.  Satius  erat  ista 
in  oblivionem  ire,  ne  quis  postea  potens  disceret  in- 
videretque  rei  minime  humanae. 

XIV.  O  quantum  caligiuis  mentibus  nostris  obicit 
magna  felicitas  !  Ille  se  supra  reruni  naturam  esse 
tunc  credidit,  cum  tot  miserorum  hominum  catervas 
sub  alio  coelo  natis  beluis  obiceret,  cum  bellum  inter 
tarn  disparia  animalia  committeret,  cum  in  conspectu 
populi  Romani  multum  sanguinis  funderet  mox  plus 
ipsum  fundere  coacturus.  At  idem  postea  Alexandri- 
na  pertidia  deceptus  ultimo  mancipio  transfodiendum 
se  praebuit,  turn  demum  intellecta  inani  iactatione 
cognominis  sui.  2.  Sed  ut  illo  revertar,  unde  decessi, 
et  in  eadem  materia  ostendam  supervacuam  quorum- 
dam  diligentiam  :  idem  narrabat  Metellum  victis  in 
Sicilia  Poenis  triumphantem  unum  omnium  Romano- 
rum  ante  ^currum  centum  et  viginti  captivos  elephan- 


DE  BREVITATE  VITAE.  CAP.  XIV.  12^ 

tos  duxisse.  Siillam  nltimiim  Romanorum  protulisse 
pomoeriiim,  quod  nmnquam  provinciali,  sed  Italico 
agro  adquisito  proferre  moris  apiid  antiques  fuit.  3. 
Hoc  scire  magis  prodest,  quam  Aventinum  montem 
extra  pomoerium  esse,  ut  ille  adfirmabat,  propter  al-  . 
teram  ex  diiabiis  causis,  aut  quod  plebs  eo  secessis- 
set,  aut  quod  Remo  auspicaiite  illo  loco  aves  non 
addixissent.  Alia  deinceps  innumerabilia,  quae  aut 
farta  sunt  mendaciis  aut  similia.  Ham  ut  concedas 
omnia  eos  fide  bona  dicere,  ut  ad  praestationem 
scribant  :  tamen  cuius  ista  errores  minuent  ?  cuius 
cupiditates  prement  ?  quern  fortiorem,  quern  iustio- 
rem,  quern  liberaliorem  facient.  4.  Dubitare  se  in¬ 
terim  Fabianus  noster  aiebat,  an  satius  esset  nullis 
studiis  admoveri  quam  *his  inplicari.  Soli  omnium 
otiosi  sunt  qiii  sapientiae  vacant  :  soli  vivunt  :  nec 
enim  suam  tantum  aetatem  bene  tiientur  :  omne 
aevuin  suo  adicinat.  Quicquid  annonmi  ante  illos 
actum  est,  illis  adquisitum  est.  Hisi  ingratissimi 

sumus,  illi  clarissimi  sacrarum  opinioniim  conditores 
nobis  nati  sunt,  nobis  vitam  praeparaveriint.  5.  Ad 
res  pulcherrimas  ex  tenebris  ad  lucem  erutas  alieno 
labore  deducimur  :  nullo  nobis  seculo  interdictum 
est,  in  omnia  admittimur  et,  si  magnitudine  animi 
egredi  humanae  inbecillitatis  angustias  libet,  multiim, 
per  quod  spatiemur,  temporis  est.  Disputare  cum 
Socrate  licet,  dubitare  cum  Carneade,  cum  Epicuro 
quiescere,  hominis  naturam  cum  Stoicis  vincere,  cum 
Cynicis  excedere,  cum  rerum  natura  in  consortium 
oninis  aevi  patiatur  incedere.  6.  Quidni  ab  hoc  exi* 
giio  et  caduco  temporis  transitu  in  ilia  toto  nos  de¬ 
mos  anirno,  quae  inmensa,  quae  aeterna  sunt,  quae 


124 


L.  ANNAEI  SENECAE 


cum  melioribiis  commiinia  ?  Isti,  qni  per  officia  dis- 
cnrsant,  qui  se  aliosqiie  inquietant,  cum  bene  insanie- 
rint,  cum  omnium  limina  cotidie  perambulaverint  nec 
ullas  apertas  fores  praeterierint,  cum  per  diversissi- 
mas  domos  meritoriam  salutationem  circumtulerint ; 
quotum  quemque  ex  tarn  inmensa  et  variis  cupiditati- 
bus  districta  urbe  poterunt  videre  ?  quam  multi  erunt, 
quorum  illos  aut  somnus  aut  luxuria  aut  inhumanitas 
submoveat?  7.  Quam  multi  qui  illos,  cum  diu  torse- 
rint,  simulata  festinatione  transcurrant  ?  quam  multi 
per  refertum  clientibus  atrium  prodire  vitabunt  et 
per  obscuros  aedium  aditus  profugient  ?  quasi  non 
inhumanius  sit  decipere  quam  excludere :  quam  multi 
liesterna  crapula  semisomnes  et  graves,  illis  miseriis 
somnum  suum  rumpentes,  ut  alienum  exspectent,  vix 
adlevatis  labris  insusurratum  millies  nomen  oscitatione 
superbissima  reddent?  8.  Hos  in  veris  officiis  morari 
licet  dicamus,  qui  Zenonem,  qui  Pjthagoran  cotidie  et 
Democritum  ceterosque  antistites  bon  arum  artium,  qui 
Aristotelem  et  Theoplirastum  volent  habere  quam  fa- 
miliarissimos :  nemo  horum  non  vacabit,  nemo  non 
venientem  ad  se  beatiorem  amantioremque  sui  dimit- 
tet:  nemo  quemquam  vacuis  a  se  manibus  abire  pa- 
tietur.  9.  Kocte  conveniri  et  interdiu  ab  omnibus 
mortalibus  possunt.  Horum  te  mori  nemo  coget, 
omnes  docebunt:  horum  nemo  annos  tuos  conterit, 
suos  tibi  contribuit :  nullius  ex  his  sermo  periculosus 
erit,  nullius  amicitia  capitalis,  nullius  sumptuosa  ob- 
servatio. 

XY.  Feres  ex  illis,  quicquid  voles :  per  illos  non 
stabit,  quo  minus  plurimum  quantum  ceperis  haurias. 
Quae  ilium  felicitas,  quam  pulchra  senectus  manet, 


DE  BREVITATE  VITAE.  .  CAP.  XV. 


125 


qui  se  in  horiim  clientelam  contiilit  ?  habebit,  cum  qui- 
bus  de  minimis  maximisque  rebus  deliberet,  quos  de  se 
cotidie  consulat.  a  quibus  audiat  verum  sine  contume- 
lia,  laudetur  sine  adulatione,  ad  quorum  se  similitudi- 
nem  effingat.  Solemus  dicere  non  fuisse  in  nostra 
potestate,  quos  sortiremur  parentes,  forte  nobis  datos : 
nobis  vero  ad  nostrum  arbitrium  nasci  licet.  2.  Ko- 
bilissimorum  ingeniorum  familiae  sunt ;  elige  in  quam 
adscisci  velis :  non  in  nomen  tantum  adoptaberis,  sed 
in  ipsa  bona :  quae  non  erunt  sordide  nec  maligne 
custodienda;  maiora  fient,  quo  ilia  pluribus  diviseris. 
Hi  tibi  dabunt  ad  aeternitatem  iter  et  te  in  ilium  lo¬ 
cum,  ex  quo  nemo  deicitur,  sublevabunt ;  haec  una 
ratio  est  extendendae  mortalitatis,  immo  in  inmortali- 
tateni  vertendae.  Honores,  monumenta,  quicquid  aut 
decretis  ambitio  iussit  aiit  operibus  exstruxit,  cito  sub- 
ruitur :  nihil  non  longa  demolitur  vetustas  et  movet. 
3.  At  iis,  quae  consecravit  sapientia,  noceri  non  potest : 
nulla  abolebit  aetas,  nulla  diminuet :  sequens  ac  deinde 
semper  ulterior  aliquid  ad  venerationem  coiifert ;  quo- 
niam  quidem  in  vicino  versatur  invidia  ;  simplicius 
longe  posita  miramur.  Sapientis  ergo  multum  patet 
vita :  non  idem  ilium  qui  ceteros  terminus  cludit :  so¬ 
lus  generis  liumani  legibus  solvitur :  omnia  illi  secula 
ut  deo  serviunt.  4.  Transit  tempus  aliquod  ?  hoc  re- 
cordatione  conprehendit :  instat  ?  hoc  utitur :  ventii- 
rnm  est?  hoc  praecipit.  Longam  illi  vitam  facit  om¬ 
nium  temporum  in  unum  conlocatio.  Illorum  bre- 
vissima  ac  sollicitissima  aetas  est,  qui  praeteritorum 
obliviscuntur,  praesentia  neglegunt,  de  future  timent : 
cum  ad  extrema  venerunt,  sero  intellegunt  miseri, 
tamdiu  se,  dum  nihil  agunt,  occupatos  fuisse. 

F  2 


126 


L.  'ANNAEI  SEI^ECAE 


XYL  Xec  cst,  quod  hoc  argumeuto  probari  putes 
loiigam  illos  agere  vitam,  quia  interdum  mortem  in- 
Yocant.  •  Yexat  illos  inprudentia  incertis  adfectibus 
et  iucurrentibus  in  ipsa  quae  metuunt :  mortem  saepe 
ideo  optaiit,  quia  timent.  Illud  quoque  argumeutum 
non  est,  quod  putes,  diu  viventium,  quod  saepe  illis 
longus  yidetur  dies,  quod,  dum  veniat  condicdum  tern- 
pus  coenae,  tarde  ire  boras  queruntur :  nam  si  quando 
illos  deseruerunt  occupationes,  in  otio  relicti  aestuant, 
nec  quomodo  id  disponant  aut  extrahant,  sciunt.  2. 
Itaque  ad  occupationem  aliquam  tendunt  et  quod  in- 
teriacet  omne  tempus  grave  est,  tarn  meliercule,  quam 
cum  dies  muneris  gladiatorii  edictus  est,  aut  cum  ali- 
cuius  alterius  vel  spectaculi  vel  voluptatis  exspectatur 
constitutum,  transilire  medios  dies  volunt.  Omnis  illis 
speratae  rei  longa  dilatio  est  ad  illud  tempus,  quod 
amanti  breve  est  et  praeceps  breviusque  multo  suo  vi- 
tio :  aliunde  enim  alio  transfugiunt  et  consistere  in 
una  cupiditate  non  possunt :  non  sunt  illi  longi  dies. 
Bed  invisi.  3.  At  contra  quam  exiguae  noctes  viden- 
tur,  quas  in  conplexu  scortorum  aut  vino  exigunt  ? 
Inde  etiam  poetarum  furor  fabulis  humanos  errores 
alentium,  quibus  visus  est  lupiter  voluptate  concubi- 
tus  delenitus  duplicasse  noctem.  Quid  aliud  est  vitia 
nostra  incendere  quam  auctores  illis  inscribere  deos  et 
dare  morbo  exemplo  divinitatis  excusatam  licentiam  ? 
4.  Possunt  istis  non  brevissimae  videil  noctes,  quas 
tarn  care  mercantur  ?  diem  noctis  exspectatioiie  per- 
dunt,  noctem  lucis  metu.  Ipsae  volu})tates  eorum 
trepidae  et  vaiiis  terroribus  inquietae  sunt  subitque 
cum  maxime  exsultaiitis  sollicita  cogitatio,  Ilaec  quam 
diu?  Ab  hoc  adfectu  reges  suam  flevere  potentiam ; 


DE  BREVITATE  VITAE.  CAP.  XVII.  127 

11  ec  illos  magnitude  fortunae  suae  delectavit,  sed  ven- 
turns  aliquando  finis  exterruit.  5.  Cum  per  magna 
camporum  spatia  porrigeret  exercitum  nec  numerum 
eius,  sed  mensuram  conprehenderet  Persarum  rex  in- 
solentissimus,  lacrimas  profudit,  quod  intra  centum  an- 
nos  nemo  ex  tanta  iuventute  superfuturus  esset.  At 
illis  admoturus  erat  fatum  ipse,  qui  fiebat,  perditurus- 
que  alios  in  niari,  alios  in  terra,  alios  proelio,  alios  fuga 
et  intra  exiguum  tempus  consumpturus  illos,  quibus 
centesimum  annum  timebat. 

XYII.  Quid,  quod  gaudia  quoque  eorum  trepida 
sunt  ?  non  enim  solidis  causis  innituntur,  sed  eadern, 
qua  oriuntur,  vanitate  turbantur.  Qualia  autem  putas 
esse  tempera  etiam  ipsorum  confessione  misera,  cum 
baec  quoque,  quibus  se  adtollunt  et  super  hominem 
efferunt,  parum  sincera  sunt  ?  Maxima  quaeque  bona 
sollicita  sunt  nec  ulli  fortunae  minus  bene  quam  opti- 
mae  creditur.  Alia  felicitate  ad  tuendam  felicitatem 
opus  est  et  pro  ipsis,  quae  successere,  votis  vota  faci- 
enda  snnt.  2.  Omne  enim,  quod  fortuito  obvenit,  insta¬ 
bile  est:  quod  altius  surrexerit,  opportunius  est  in  oc- 
casum  :  neminem  porro  casura  delectant:  Miserrimam 
ergo  necesse  est,  non  tantum  brevissimam  vitam  eorum 
esse,  qui  magno  parant  labore,  quod  maiore  possideant ; 
operose  adsequuntur,  quae  volunt,  anxii  tenent,  quae 
adsecuti  sunt.  Xulla  interim  numquam  amplins  re- 
dituri  temporis  ratio  est.  3.  Novae  occupationes  ve- 
teribus  substituuntur,  spes  spem  excitat,  ambitionem 
ambitio  :  miseriarnm  non  finis  quaeritnr,  sed  materia 
mutatur.  Nostri  nos  lionores  torserunt?  plus  temporis 
alieni  aufenmt.  Candidati  laborare  desimus  ?  suffra- 
gatores  incipimus.  Accusandi  deposiiimus  molestiam  ? 


r28 


L.  ANNAEI  SP^NECAE 


iudicaiidi  nandscimnr.  Index  desiit  esse  ?  quaesitor 
est.  Alieiioriim  bonoriim  mercenaria  procnratione 
conseniiit  ?  suis  opibns  detinetur.  Marium  caliga  di- 
misit  ?  consnlatiis  exercet.  4.  Quintius  dictaturam 
properat  praevadere  ?  ab  aratro  revocabitur.  Ibit  in 
Poenos  nondum  tantae  maturns  rei  Scipio,  victor  Plan- 
nibalis,  victor  Antiocbi,  sni  consiilatus  decus,  fraterni 
sponsor,  ni  per  ipsnm  mora  sit,  cum  love  reponetur  ? 
civiles  servatorem  agitabunt  seditiones  et  post  fastidi- 
tos  a  invene  dis  aequos  honores  iam  senem  contnma- 
cis  exilii  delectabit  ambitio.  Nnmquam  deerunt  vel 
felices  vel  miserae  sollicitudinis  cansae :  per  occnpa- 
tiones  vita  rodetnr  otium :  numqnam  agetur,  semper 
optabitur. 

XYIII.  Excerpe  itaqiie  te  volgo,  Pauline  carissime, 
et  in  tranquilliorem  portum  non  pro  aetatis  spatio 
iactatus  tandem  recede.  Cogita,  quot,  fluctus  subieris, 
qnot  tempestates  parti m  privatas  sustinueris,  partim 
publicas  in  te  converteris.  Satis  iam  per  laboriosa  et 
inquieta  documenta  exhibita  virtus  est :  experire,  quid 
in  otio  faciat.  Maior  pars  aetatis,  certe  melior  reipnb- 
licae  data  sit  :  aliquid  temporis  tui  sume  etiam  tibi. 
Xec  te  ad  segnem  aut  inertem  quietem  voco :  non  ut 
somno  et  caris  turbae  voluptatibus,  quicquid  est  in  te 
indolis  vivae,  demergas.  2.  Non  est  istud  adquiescere  : 
invenies  maiora  omnibus  adhuc  strenue  tractatis  ope- 
ribus,  quae  repositus  et  securus  agites.  Tu  quidem 
orbis  terrarum  rationes  administras  tain  abstinenter 
quam  alieiias,  tarn  diligenter  quam  tuas,  tarn  religiose 
quam  publicas  :  in  officio  amorem  cousequeris,  in  quo 
odium  vitare  difficile  est :  sed  tamen,  milii  crede,  satins 
est  vitae  suae  rationem  quam  frumenti  public!  nosse. 


DE  BREVITATE  VITAE.  CAP.  XIX. 


129 


3.  Istum  animi  vigorern,  rerum  maximarum  capacissi- 
mum,  a  ministerio  lioiiorifico  quidem,  sed  parum  ad 
beatam  vitam  apto  ad  te  revoca  et  cogita  non  id  egisse 
te  ab  aetate  prima  omni  cultu  studiorum  liberalium,  ut 
tibi  multa  milia  frumenti  bene  committerentur :  ma- 
ius  quiddam  et  altius  de  te  promiseras.  Kon  deerunt 
et  frugalitatis  exactae  homines  et  laboriosae  operae. 
Tanto  aptiora  exportandis  oneribus  tarda  imnenta  sunt 
quam  nobiles  equi ;  quorum  generosam  pernicitatem 
quis  umquam  gravi  sarcina  pressit  ?  Cogita  praeterea, 
quantum  sollicitudinis  sit  ad  tantam  te  molem  obicere : 
cum  ventre  tibi  liumano  negotium  est.  4.  Nec  ratio- 
nem  patitur  nec  aequitate  mitigatur  nec  ulla  prece 
flectitur  populus  esuriens.  Modo  intra  paucos  illos 
dies,  quibus  C.  Caesar  periit,  si  quis  inferis  sensus  est, 
lioc  gravissime  ferens,  quod  decedebat  populo  Romano 
superstite,  septem  aut  octo  certe  dierum  cibaria  super- 
esse  ?  dum  ille  pontes  navibus  iungit  et  viribus  impe- 
ri  ludit,  aderat  ultimum  malorum  obsessis  quoque,  ali- 
mentorum  egestas.  5.  Exitio  paene  ac  fame  constitit 
et,  quae  famem  sequitur,  rerum  omnium  ruina  furiosi 
et  externi  et  infeliciter  superbi  regis  imitatio.  Quern 
tunc  animum  habuerunt  illi,  quibus  erat  mandata  fru¬ 
menti  publici  cura  ?  saxa,  ferrum,  ignes,  Caium  excep- 
turi  summa  dissimulatione  tantum  inter  viscera  laten- 
tis  mali  tegebant,  cum  ratione  scilicet :  quaedam  enim 
ignorantibus  aegris  curanda  sunt :  causa  multis  mori- 
endi  fuit  morbum  suum  nosse. 

XIX.  Recipe  te  ad  haec  tranquilliora,  tutiora,  maio- 
ra.  Simile  tu  putas  esse,  utrum  cures,  ut  incorruptum 
et  a  fraude  advehentium  et  a  neglegentia  frumentum 
transfundatur  in  horrea,  ne  concepto  humore  vitietur 


130 


L.  ANNAEI  SENEOAE 


et  concalescat,  iit  ad  mensiiram  pondnsque  respondeat, 
an  ad  haec  sacra  et  sublirnia  accedas  sciturns,  quae 
materia  sit  dis,  quae  voluptas,  quae  condicio,  quae  for¬ 
ma  ?  quis  anirnum  tuum  casus  exspectet,  ubi  nos  et  a 
corporibus  dimissos  natiira  coupon  at  ?  quid  sit  quod 
buius  mundi.  gravissima  quaeque  in  medio  sustineat, 
supra  levia  suspendat,  in  summum  ignem  ferat,  sidera 
vicibus  suis  excitet  ?  cetera  dein  ceps  ingen tibus  plena 
miraculis.  2.  Yis  tu  relicto  solo  mente  ad  ista  respi- 
cere  ?  nunc,  dum  calet  sanguis,  vigentibus  ad  meliora 
eundum  est.  Exspectat  te  in  hoc  genere  vitae. multurn 
bonarum  artium,  amor  virtutum  atque  usus,  cupidita- 
tum  oblivio,  vivendi  ac  moriendi  scientia,  alta  rerum 
quies.  Omnium  quidem  occupatorum  condicio  misera 
est ;  eorum  tamen  miserrima,  qui  ne  suis  quidem  labo- 
rant  occupationibus,  ad  alienum  dormiunt  somnum,  ad 
alienum  ambulant  gradum,  amare  et  odisse,  res  omni¬ 
um  liberrimas,  iubentur.  3.  Hi  si  volent  scire  quam 
brevis  ipsorum  vita  sit,  cogitent  ex  quota  parte  sua  sit. 
Cum  videris  itaque  praetextam  saepe  iam  sumptam, 
cum  celebre  in  foro  nomen,  non  invideris.  Ista  vitae 
damno  parantur :  ut  unus  ab  illis  numeretur  annus, 
omnis  annos  suos  conterent.  Quosdam,  antequam  in 
summum  ambitionis  eniterentur,  inter  prima  luctantis 
aetas  reliquit :  quosdam  cum  in  consurnmationem  dig¬ 
nitatis  per  mille  ihdignitates  erupissent,  misera  subit 
cogitatio  laborasse  ipsos  in  titulurn  sepulcri :  quorum- 
dam  ultima  senectus,  dum  in  novas  spes  ut  iuventa 
disponitur,  inter  conatus  magnos  et  inprobos  invalida 
defecit. 

XX.  Foedus  ille,  quern  in  iudicio  pro  ignotissimis 
litigatoribus  grandem  natu  et  inperitae  coronae  ad- 


DE  BREVITATE  VITAE.  CAP.  XX. 


131 


sensiones  captantem  spiritus  liquit :  turpis  ille,  qiii  vi- 
vendo  lassus  citius  qnam  laborando  inter  ipsa  officia 
conlapsus  est :  turpis,  quern  accipiendis  inmorientem 
rationibus  diu  tractus  risit  heres.  Praeterire  quod 
mihi  occurrit  exemplum  non  possum :  2.  Turannius 
fuit  exactae  diligentiae  senex,  qui  post  annum  nona- 
gesimum,  cum  vacationem  procurationis  ab  C.  Caesare 
ultro  accepisset,  conponi  se  in  lecto  et  velut  exani- 
mem  a  circumstante  familia  plangi  iussit.  Lugebat 
domus  otium  domini  senis  nec  finivit  ante  tristitiam, 
quam  labor  illi  suus  restitutus  est.  Adeone  iuvat 
occupatum  mori  ?  Idem  plerisque  animus  est :  diuti- 
us  ciipiditas  illis  laboris  quam  facultas  est :  cum  in- 
becillitate  corporis  pugnant :  senectutem  ipsam  nullo 
alio  nomine  gravem  indicant,  quam  quod  illos  seponit. 
3.  Lex  a  quinquagesimo  anno  militem  non  legit,  a  sex- 
agesimo  senatorem  non  citat :  difficilius  homines  a  se 
otium  inpetrant  quam  a  lege.  Interim  durn  rapiuntur 
et  rapiunt,  dum  alter  alterius  quietem  rumpit,  dum 
mutuo  miseri  sunt,  vita  est  sine  fructu,  sine  voluptate, 
sine  ullo  profectu  animi :  nemo  in  conspicuo  mortem 
habet,  nemo  non  procul  spes  intendit.  4.  Quidam  vero 
disponunt  etiam  ilia,  quae  ultra  vitam  sunt,  magnas 
moles  sepulcrorum  et  operum  publicorum  dedicationes 
et  ad  rogum  munera  et  ambitiosas  exsequias.  At  me- 
hercule  istorum  funera,  tamquam  minimum  vixerint, 
ad  faces  et  cereos  ducenda  sunt. 


1 


L 


One  Roman  Mile, 


i 


L.  ANNAEI  SENECAE 


AD  GALLIONEM 

DE  VITA  BEATA 


LIBER  UNUS. 


By  undeceiving,  enlarging,  and  informing  the  intellect.  Philosophy 
sought  to  purify  and  to  elevate  the  moral  cliaracter,  .  ,  .  Across  the 
night  of  Paganism,  Philosophy  flitted  on,  like  the  lantern-fly  of  the 
Tropics,  a  light  to  itself,  and  an  ornament,  but,  alas,  no  more  than  an 
ornament,  of  the  surrounding  darkness.  Coleridge. 


AD  GALLIONEM 


DE  VITA  BEATA. 


I.  Yivere,  Gallic  f rater,  omnes  beate  voliint,  sed  ad 
pervidendnm,  quid  sit  quod  beatam  vitam  efficiat,  cali-i 
gant :  adeoque  non  est  facile  consequi  beatam  vitam, 
ut  eo  quisque  ab  ea  longius  recedat,  quo  ad  illam  con- 
citatius  fertur,  si  via  lapsus  est ;  qua6  ubi  in  contra- 
riuTn  ducit,  ipsa  velocitas  maioris  intervalli  causa  fit. 
Proponendum  est  itaque  primum,  quid  sit  quod  adpe- 
tamus :  tunc  circumspiciendurh,  qua  contendere  illo 
celerrime  possimus,  intellecturi  in  ipso  itinere,  si  mode 
rectum  erit,  quantum  cotidie  profiigetur  quantoque 
propius  ab  eo  simus,  ad  quod  nos  cupiditas  naturalis 
inpellit.  2.  Quamdiu'  quidern  passim  vagamur  non 
ducem  secuti,  sed  fremitum  et  clamorem  dissonum  in 
diversa  vocantium,  conteretur  vita  inter  errores  brevis, 
etiam  si  dies  noctesque'  bon^  menti  laboremus.  De- 
cernatur  itaqne,  et  quo  tendamus  et  qua,  non  sine  peri- 
to  aliquo,  cui  explorata  sint  ea,  in  quae  procedirnus ; 
quoniam  quidern  non  eadem  hie  quae  in  ceteris  pere- 
grinationibus  condicio  est.  In  illis  conprensus  aliquis 
limes  et  interrogati  incolae  non  patiuntur^errare :  at 
hie  tritissima  quaeque  via  et  celeberrima  maxime  de- 
cipit.  3.  Nihil  ergo  magis  praestandum  est,  quam  ne 


136 


L.  ANNA  El  SENECAE 


pecoriim  ritii  seqiiamnr  antecedentiiim  gregem,  per- 
geiites  lion  quo  eundiim  est,  sed  quo  itiir.  Atqui  nulla 
res  nos  maioribus  mails  inplicatj  quam  quod  ad  rumo- 
rem  conponiinur,  optima  rati  ea,  quae  magno  adsensu 
recepta  sunt  quorumque  exempla  nobis  multa  sunt, 
nec  ad  rationem,  sed  ad  similitudinem  vivimus ;  inde 
ista  tanta  coacervatio  aliorum  super  alios  ruentium. 

4.  Quod  in  strage  liominum  rnagna  evenit,  cum  ipse 
se  populus  premit,  nemo  ita  cadit,  ut  non  et  alium  in 
se  adtraliat,  primique  exitio  sequentibus  sunt,  hoc  in 
omni  vita  accidere  videas  licet :  nemo  sibi  tantummo- 
do  errat,  sed  alien!  erroris  et  causa  et  auctor  est.  No- 
cet  eniin  adplicari  antecedentibus,  et  dum  unusquisque 
mavult  credere  quam  iudicare,  numquam  de  vita  iu- 
dicatur,  semper  creditur  versatque  nos  et  praecipitat 
traditus  per  manus  error  :  alienis  perimus  exemplis. 

5.  Sanabimur,  si  modo  separemur  a  coetu :  nunc  vero 
stat  contra  rationem  defensor  mali  sui  populus.  Ita- 
que  id  evenit  quod  in  %iiiitiis,  in  quibus  eos  factos 
esse  praetores^iidem  qui  fecere^mirantur,  cum  se  mo- 
bilis  favor  circumegit.  Eadem  probamus,  eadem  re¬ 
prehen  dim  us  :  hie  exitus  est  omnis  iudicii,  in  quo  se¬ 
cundum  plures  datur. 

II.  Cum  de  beata  vita  agetur,  non  est  quod  mihi  il- 
lud  discessionum  more  respondeas :  Haec  pars  maior 
esse  videtur.  Ideo  enim  peior  est.  Non  tarn  bene 
cum  rebus  humanis  agitur,  ut  meliora  pluribus  pla- 
ceant :  argumentum  pessimi  turbk  est.  Quaeramus 
ergo,  quid  optimum  factu  sit,  non  quid  usitatissimum  : 
et  quid  nos,  in  possessione  felicitatis  aeteriiae  consti- 
tuat,  non  quid  volgo,  veritatis  pessimb  interpreff^proba- 
tum  sit.  Volgum  autem  tarn  chlamydatos  quam  co- 


DE  VITA  BEATA.  CAP.  III. 


137 


roiiatos  voco.  2.  Non  enim  colorem  vestium,  qnibns 
praetexta  simt  corpora,  adspicio :  oculis  de  homine 
non  credo :  habeo  melius  et  certius  lumen,  quo  a 
falsis  vera  diiudicem.  Animi  bonum  animufi  inve- 
niat :  hie,  si  umquam  respirare  illi  et  recedere  in  se 
vacaverit,  q  quam  sibi  ipse  verum  tortus  a  se  fate- 
bitur  ac  dicet  :  Quicquid  feci  adliiic,  infectum  esse 
inallem  :  quicquid  dixi  cum  recogito,  in  multis  ri- 
deo  :  quicquid  optavi,  inimicorum  exsecrationem  puto : 
quicquid  timni,  di  boni,  quanto  levins  fuit  quam  quod 
concupivi  ?  3.  Cum  multis  inimicitias  gessi  et  in  gra- 

tiam  ex  odio,  si  modo  ulla  inter  males  gratia  est,  re- 
dii  :  mihi  ipsi  nondum  amicus  sum.  Omnem  ope- 
ram  dedi,  ut  me  multitudini  educerem  et  aliqua  dote 
notabilem  facerem :  quid  aliud  quam  telis  me  oppo- 
sui  et  malivolentiae  quod  morderet  ostendi  ?  Yides 
istos  qui  eloquentiam  laudaiit,  qui  opes  sequuntur,  qui 
gratiae  adulantur,  qui  potentiam  extollunt  ?  omnes  aut 
sunt  hostes  aut,  quod  in  aequo  est,  esse  possunt.  Quam 
magnus  mirantium  tarn  magnus  invidentium  populus 
est. 

III.  Quin  potius  quaere  aliquod  usu  bonum,  quod 
sentiam,  non  quod  ostendam :  ista  quae  spectantur, 
ad  quae  consistitur,  quae  alter  alter!  stupens  monstrat, 
foris  nitent,  introrsus  misera  sunt.  Quaeramus  ali- 
quid  non  in  speciem  bonum,  sed  solidum  et  aequale 
et  a  secretiore  parte  formosiiis.  Hoc  eruamus :  nec 
longe  positnm  est ;  invenietur :  scire  tanturn  opus  est 
quo  manum  porrigas.  Nunc  velut  in  tenebris  vici- 
na  transirniis  offensantes  ea  ipsa  quae  desideramus. 
2.  Sed  ne  te  per  circumitus  traliam,  aliorum  quidem 
opiniones  praeteribo  :  nam  et  enumerare  illas  longum 


138 


L.  ANNAEI  SENECAE 


est  et  coarguere  :  nostram  accipe  :  nostram  autem  cum 
dico,  uon  adligo  me  ad  imum  aliquem  ex  Stoicis  pro- 
ceribus:  est  et  mihi  censendi  ius.  Itaque  aliquem  se- 
quar,  aliquem  iubebo  sententiam  dividere.:  fortasse  et 
post  omnes  citatus  nihil  inprobabo  ex  iis,  quae  priores 
decreverint,  et  dicam,  Hoc  am,jpli'iis  censeo.  Interim 
quod  inter  omnis  Stoicos  convenit,  rerum  naturae  ad- 
sentior :  ab  ilia  non  deerrare  et  ad  illius  legem  exem- 
plumque  formari  sapientiS,  est.  3.  Beata  est  ergo  vita 
conveniens  naturae  suae  :  quae  non  aliter  contingere 
potest,  quam  si^primum  sana  mens  est  et  in  perpetua 
possessione  sanitatis  suae,  deinde  fortis  ac  veheraens, 
tunc  pulcherrima  et  patiens,  apta  temporibus,  corporis 
sui  pertinentiumque  ad  id  curiosa  non  anxie  :  turn  ali- 
arurn  rerum.  quae  vitam  instruunt,  diligent,  sine  admi- 
ratione  cuiusquam  usura  fortunae  muneribus,  non  ser- 
vitura.  /  4.  Intellegis,  etiam  si  non  adiciam,  sequi  per- 
petuam  tranquillitatem,  libertatem  ^depulsis  iis'  quae 
aut  inritant  nos  aut  territant.  Nam  voluptatibus  et 
pro  illis  quae  parva  ac  fragilia  sunt  et  in  ipsis  flagitiis 
noxid  ingens  gaudium  subit,  inconcussum  et  aequale  : 
turn  paX  et  concordia  animi  et  magnitude)  cum  man- 
suetudine  :  omnis  enim  ex  infirrnitate  feritafe  est. 

TV.  Potest  aliter  quoque  detiniri  boimm  nostrum,  id 
est  eadem  sententia,  non  iisdem  conprehendi  verbis. 
Quernadmodum  idem  exercitus  mode  latius  panditnr, 
mode  in  angustum  coartatur  et  aut  in  cornua  ,sinuata 
media'  parte,  curvatur  aut  recth  front'e  explicatur,  vis 
illi,  utcnmque  ordinatus  est,  eadem  est  et  voluntas  pro 
iisdem  partibus  standi;  ita  finitio  summi  boni  alias’ 
diffimdi  potest  et  exporrigi,  alias  colligi  et  in  se  cogi. 
2.  Idem  itaque  erit,  si  dixero  :  Summum  bouum  est 


DE  VITA  BEATA.  CAP.  V. 


139 


animus  fortuita  despiciens,  virtute  laetus,  aut,  Invicta 
vis  aiiimi,  perita  rerimij  placida  in  actu,  cum  liumani- 
tate  multa  et  conversantium  cura.  Libet  et  ita  finire, 
ut  beatum  dicamus  liominem  eum,  cui  nullum  bonum 
malumque  sit  nisi  bonus  malusque  animus :  honesti 
cultor,  virtute  contentus,  quern  nec  extollant  fortuita 
nec  frangant ;  qui  nullum  mains  bonum  eo  quod  sibi 
ipse  dare  potest  noverit,  cui  ver^  voluptas  erit  volupta- 
tum  contemptio.  3.  Licet,  si  evagari  veils,  idem  in  ali- 
am  atque  aliam  faciem  salva  et  Integra  potestate  trans- 
ferre.  Quid  enim  probibet  nbs  beatam  vita'm  dicere 
liberum  animum  et  erectum  et  interritum  ac  stabilem, 
extra  metum,  extra  cupiditatem  positun^,  cui  unum  b^ 
num  sit  honestas,  unum  malum  turpitudb  ?  4.  Cetera^ 

vilis  turba  rerum  nec  detraliens  quicquam  beatae  vitae 
nec  adiciens,  sine  auctu  ac  detrimento  summi  boni  ve- 
niens-  ac  recedens.  Hoc  ita  fundatum  necesse  est,  ve- 
lit  nolit,  sequatur  hilaritas  continua  et  laetitia  alta  at¬ 
que  ex  alto  veniens,  ut  quae  suis  gaudeat  nec  maiora 
domesticis  cupiat.  Quidni  ista  bene  penset  cum  mi¬ 
ll  utis  et  frivolis  et  non  perseverantibus  corpusculi  mo- 
tibus  ?  quo  die  infra  voluptatem  fuerit,  et  infra  dolo- 
rem  erit. 

Y.  Tides  autem,  quam  malam  et  noxiosam  servitu- 
tem ,  serviturus  sit,  quern  voluptates  doloresque,  incer- 
tissima  dominia  inpotentissimaque,  alternis  posside- 
bunt.  Ergo  exeundum  ad  libertatem  est :  banc  non 
alia  res  tribuit  quam  fortunae  neglegentia.  Turn  illud 
orietur  inaestimabile  bonum,  quies  mentis  in  tuto  con- 
locata  et  sublimitas  expulsisque  terroribus  ex  cogniti- 
one  veri  gaudiuin  grande  et  inmotum  comitasque  et 
diffusio  animi :  quibus  delectabitur  non  ut  bonis,  sed  ut 


140 


L.  ANNAEI  SENEOAE 


ex  bono  sno  ortis.  2.  Quoniam  liberaliter  agere  coe- 
pi,  potest  beatiis  dici,  qui  nec  cupit  nec  timet  benefi- 
cio  ratioiiis.  Quoniam  et  saxd  timore  et  tristitia  carent 
nec  minus  pecudes ;  non  ideo  tamen  quisquani  felicia' 
dixerit,  quibus  non  est  felicitatis  intellectus.  Eodem 
loco  pone  homines,  quos  in  numerum  pecorum  et  ani¬ 
mal  ium  redegit  hebes  natura  et  ignoratio  sui.  3.  Ni¬ 
hil  interest  inter  hos  et  ilia,  quoniam  illis  null^^ ratio 
est,  his  prava  et  malo  suo  atque  in  perversum  sellers. 
Beatus  enim  nemo  dici  potest  extra  veritatem  proiec- 
tus :  beata  ergo  vita  est  in  recto  certoque  iudicio  sta- 
bilita  et  inmutabilis.  Tunc  enim  pura  mens  est  et  so- 
luta  omnibus  malis,  cum  non  tantum  lacerationes,  sed 
etiam  vellicationes  effugerit,  statura  semper  ubi  consti- 
tit  ac  sedem  suara  etiam  irata'  et  infestante  fortiina 
vindicatura.  4.  Nam  quod  ad  voluptatem  pertinet, 
licet  circurafundatur  undique  et  per  omnes  vias  influ- 
at  animumque  blandi mentis  suis  leniat  aliaque  ex  aliis 
admoveat,  quibus  totos  partesque  nostri  sollicitet :  quis 
mortalium,  cui  ullum  superest  homiuis  vestigium,  per 
diem  noctemque  titillari  velit,  deserto  animo  corpori 
operam  dare  ? 

YI.  Sed  animus  quoque,  inquit,  voluptates  habebit 
suas.  Habeat  sane  sedeatque  luxuriae  et  voluptatum 
arbiter,  inpleat  se  eis  omnibus,  quae  oblectare  sensus 
solent :  deinde  praeterita  respiciat  et  exoletarum  vo¬ 
luptatum  memor  exsultet  prioribus  futurisque  iam  in- 
mineat  ac  spes  suas  ordinet,  et  dum  corpus  in  prae- 
senti  sagina  iacet,  cogitationes  ad  futura  praernittat : 
lioc  mihi  videbitur  miserior,  quoniam  mala  pro  bonis 
legere  dementia  est.  2.  Nec  sine  sanitate  quisquani 
beatus  est  nec  sanus  cui  futura  pro  optimis  adpetuntur. 


DE  VITA  BEATA.  CAP.  VII. 


141 


Beatu^  ergo  est  Tiidicii  rectus  :  beatus  est  praesentibus, 
cpialiacuinqiie  sunt,  contentus  amicusqiie  rebus  siiis : 
beatus  est  is,  cui  omiiem  habitum  rerum  suarum  ratio 
commendat.  Yidet  et  in  illis  qui  siimmum  boniiin  dix- 
erint,  qnam  turpi  illud  loco  posuerint.  Itaque  negant 
posse  voluptateni  a  virtute  deduci,et  aiunt  nec  lioneste 
quemquam  vivere,  ut  non  iuciinde  vivat,  nec  iucunde, 
ut  non  lioneste  quoque.  3.  Non  video  quoniodo  ista 
tarn  diversa  in  eamdem  copulam  coniciantur.  Quid 
est,  oro  VOS,  cur  separari  volnptaS  a  virtute  non  possit  ? 
videlicet  quia  omne  bonis  ex  virtute  principium  est : 
ex  liuius  radicibus  etiam  ea,  quae  vos  et  amatis  et 
expetitis,  oriuntur.  Sed  si  ista  indiscreta  essent,  non 
videreinus  quaedam  iucunda,  sed  lionesta  ;  quaedam 
vero  lionestissima,  sed  aspera,  per  dolores  exigenda. 

YII.  Adice  nunc,  qnod  voliiptas  etiam  ad  vitam  tur- 
pissimam  venit ;  at  virtns  malam  vitam  non  admittit : 
et  infelices  quidam  non  sine  voluptate,  imrno  ob  ipsam 
voluptatem  sunt :  qnod  non  eveniret,  si  virtuti  se  vo- 
luptas  inmiscuisset,  qua  virtus  saepe  caret,  numquam 
indiget.  Quid  dissimilia,  immo  diversa  conponitis  ? 
Altiim  quiddam  est  virtus,  excelsum  et  regale,  invic- 
tum,  infatigabile  :  voluptas  liumile,  servile,  inbecillum, 
caducnm,  cuius  statio  ac  domicilium  fornices  et  popi- 
nae  sunt.  2.  Yirtiitem  in  templo  convenies,  in  foro, 
in  curia,  pro  muris  stantem,  pulvernlentam,  coloratam, 
callosas  liabentem  manus :  voluptatem  latitantem  sae- 
pius  ac  tenebras  captantem  circa  balinea  ac  sudatoria 
ac  loca  aedilem  metuentia,  mollem,  cnervem,  mero  at- 
qne  unguento  madentem,  pallidam  aiit  fucatam  et  me- 
dicamentis  pollinctam.  3.  Summum  boniim  inmor- 
tale  est,  nescit  exire :  nec  satietatem  habet  nec  poeni- 

O 


142 


L.  ANNAEI  SENECAE 


tentiam  :  numqnam  enira  recta  mens  vertitnr  nee  sibi 
odio  est :  nec  quicqiiam  mutavit  optima.  At  voliiptas 
tunc,  cum  maxime  delectat,  exstinguitur  :  non  multuni 
loci  habet ;  itaque  cito  inplet  et  taedio  est  et  post  pri- 
mum  inpetum  marcet.  J^ec  id  nmquam  certum  est, 
cuius  in  motu  natura  est :  ita  ne  potest  quidem  ulla  eius 
esse  substantia,  quod  venit  transitve  celerrime  in  ipso 
usu  sui  perituruni.  Eo  enim  pervenit  ubi  desinat,  et 
duni  incipit,  spectat  ad  finem. 

VIII.  Quid,  quod  tarn  bonis  quam  malis  voluptas 
inest?  nec  minus  turpes  dedecus  suum  quam  hones- 
tos  egregia  delectant.,  Ideoque  praeceperunt  veteres 
optimam  sequi  vitam,  non  iucundissimam,  ut  rectae 
ac  bonae  voluntatis  non  dux,  sed  comes  sit  voluptas. 
Hatura  enim  duce  utendum  est :  hanc  ratio  observat, 
banc  consulit.  ^Idem  est  ergo  beate  vivere  et  secun¬ 
dum  naturam.  2.  IIo6  quid  sit,  iam  aperiam :  si  cor¬ 
poris  dotes”  et  apta'  naturae  conservabimiis  diligenter 
et  inpavide  tamquam  in  diem  data  et  fugacia,  si  non 
subierimus  eorum  servitutem  nec  nos  aliena  possede- 
rint,  si  corpori  grata  et  adventicia  eo  nobis  loco 
fuerint,  quo  sunt  in  castris  auxilia  et  armaturae 
leves.^  Serviant  ista,  non  imperent :  ita  demum  uti- 
lia  sunt  menti.  Incorruptus  vir  sit  externis  et  insu- 
perabilis  miratorque  tantum  sui,  fidens  animo  atque 
in  utrumque  paratus  artifex  vitae.  Fiducia  eius  non 
sine  scientia  sit,  scientia  non  sine  constantia  :  mane- 
ant  illi  semel  placita  nec  ulla  in  decretis  eius  litura 
sit.  3.  Intellegitur,  etiam  si  non  adiecero,  conposi- 
t^m  ordinatumque  fore  talem  virum  et  in  iis  quae 
aget,  cum  comitate  maguificum.  j  Erit  vera  ratio  sen- 
sibus  insita  et  capiens  inde  principia :  nec  enim  habet 


DE  VITA  BEATA.  CAP.  IX, 


.'i  ‘> 
^±o 


alind,  uiide  coiietur  aiit  unde  ad  veruin  iiipetum  ca¬ 
piat;  in  se  revertatur,  Nam  mundum  quoque,  cuncta 
conplectens  rectorque  universi  deus  in  exterioi’a  qni- 
dem  tendit,  sed  tamen  in  totum  undique  in  se  redit. 
4.  Idem  nostra  mens  faciat,  cum  secuta  sensus  suos 
per  illos  se  ad  externa  porrexerit :  et  illorum  et  sui 
potens  sit.  Hoc  modo  una  efficietur  vis  ac  potestas 
concors  sibi  et  ratio  ilia  certa  nascetur  non  dissidens 
nec  liaesitans  in  opinionibus  conpreliensionibusque  nec 
in  persuasione.  Quae  cum  se  disposuit  et  partibus 
suis  cousensit  et,  ut  ita  dicam,  concinuit,  summum 
bonum  tetigit.  5.  Nihil  enim  pYaH;,  nihil  lubrici  su- 
perest :  nihil  in  quo  arietet  aut  labet.  Omnia  faciet 
ex  imperio  suo  nihilque  inopinatum  accidet ;  sed  quic- 
quid  agetur,  in  bonum  exibit  facile  et  parate  et  sine 
tergiversation e  agentis.  Nam  pigritia  et  haesitatio 
pugnam  et  inconstantiam  ostendit.  Qiiare  aiidaciter 
licet  profitearis  summum  bonum  esse  animi  concor- 
diam.  Yirtutes  enim  ibi  esse  debebunt,  ubi  consen¬ 
sus  atque  unitas  erit :  dissident  vitia. 

IX.  Sed  tu  quoque,  inquit,  virtutem  non  ob  aliud 
colis,  quam  quia  aliquam  ex  ilia  speras  voluptatem. 
Prinium  non,  si  voluptatem  praestatura  virtus  est, 
ideo  propter  banc  petitur  :  non  enim  hanc  praestat, 
sed  et  hanc,  nec  huic  laborat,  sed  labor  eius,  quamvis 
aliud  petat,  hoc  quoque  adsequetur.  Sicut  in  arvo, 
quod  segeti  prpscissum  est,  aliqiii  flores  internascun- 
tur :  non  tamen  'liuic  herbulae,  qnamvis  delectet  ocu- 
los,  tantum  operis  insumptum  est.  2.  Aliud  fuit  se- 
renti  propositum,  hoc  supervenit :  sic  c|  v.olupta^  non 
est  merces  nec  causa  virtutis,  sed  accessio :  nec  quia 
delectat,  placet,,  sed  si  placet,  et  delectat.  Summum 


144 


L.  ANNAEI  SENECAE 


boimm  in  ipso  iudicio  est  et  habitu  optimae  mentis ; 
quae  cum  suum  inplevit  et  finibus  se  suis  cinxit,  con- 
summatum  est  summum  bonum  nec  quicquam  am- 
plius  desiderat.  Niliil  enim  extra  totum  est,  non 
magis  quam  ultra  finem.  Itaque  erras,  cum  interro- 
gas,  quid  sit  illud,  propter  quod  virtutem  petam  :  quae- 
ris  enim  aliquid  supra  summum.  3.  Interrogas,  quid 
petam  ex  virtute  ?  ipsam :  nihil  enim  liabet  melius, 
ipsa  pretium  sui.  An  hoc^parum  magnum  est?  Cum 
tibi  dicam,  Summum  bonum  est  infragilis  animi  rigor 
et  providentia  et  subtilitas  et  sanitas  et  libertas  et  Con¬ 
cordia  et  decor :  aliquid  etiamnunc  exigis  maius,  ad 
quod  ista  referantur  ?  Quid  mihi  voluptatem  nomi- 
nas?  Hominis  bonum  quaero,  non  ventris,  qui  pecu- 
dibus  ac  beluis  laxior  est. 

X.  Dissimulas,  in  quit,  quid  a  me  dicatur:  ego  enim 
nego  quemquam  posse  iucunde  vivere,  nisi  simul  et  ho- 
neste  vivit :  quod  non  potest  mutis  contingere  animali- 
bus  nec  bonum  suum  cibo  metientibus.  Clare,  inquit, 
ac  palam  tester  banc  vitam,  quam  ego  iucundam  voco, 
non  sine  adiecta  virtute  contingere.  Atqui  quis  igno- 
rat  plenissimos  esse  voluptatibus  vestris  stultissimos 
quosque  ?  et  nequitiam  abundare  iucundis  animum- 
que  ipsum  non  tantum  genera  voluptatis  prava,  sed 
multa  suggerere?  2.  In  primis  insolentiara  et  nimiam 
aestimationem  sui  tumoremque  elatum  super  ceteros  et 
amorem  rerum  suarurn  caecum  et  inprovidum,  delicias 
fluentis  et  ex  minimis  ac  puerilibus  causis  exsultatio^ 
nem,  iam  dicacitatem  ac  superbiam  contumeliis  gau- 
dentem,  desidiam  dissolutionemque  segnis  animi  indor- 
mientis  sibi.  3.  Ilaec  omnia  virtus  discutit  et  aurem 
pervellit  et  voluptates  aestimat,  antequain  admittat : 


DE  VITA  BEATA.  CAP.  XI. 


145 


nec.qiias  probavit^nfegill'p&(5it  (utiqiie  enim  admittit), 
nec  HSU  eariini,  sed  temperantia  laeta  est :  tempemntia 
autem  cum  voluptates  minuat,  summi  boni  iniuria  est. 
Tu  voluptatem  conplecteris,  ego  coiipesco:  tu  voluptate 
frueris,  ego  utor  :  tu  illam  summum  bonum  putas,  ego 
uec  bonum :  tu  omnia  voluptatis  t^usa  facis,  ego  nihil. 
Cum  dico  me  nihil  voluptatis  causa  facere,  de  illo  lo- 
quor  sapiente/cui  soli  concedis  voluptatem. 

XI.  Xon  voco  autem  sapientem,  supra  quern  quic- 
quam  est,  nedum  voluptas.  Atqui  ab  hac  occupatus 
quomodo  resistet  labor!  et  periculo,  egestati  et  tot  hu- 
manam  vitam  circumstrepentibus  minis?  quomodo  con- 
spectum  mortis,  quomodo  doloris  feret  ?  quomodo  rnun- 
di  fragores  et  tantum  acerrimorum  hostium?  an  molli 
adversario  victus?  Quicquid  ,  voluptas  suaserit  yfaciet. 
Age,  non  vides  quam  multa  suasura  sit  ?  Nihil,  inquit, 
poterit  turpiter  suadere,  quia  adiuncta  virtuti  est.  Non 
vides  iterum,  quale  sit  summum  bonum,  cui  custode 
opus  est,  ut  bonum  sit  ?  2.  Yirtus  autem  quomodo  vo¬ 

luptatem  reget,  quam  sequitur,  cum  sequi  parentis  sit, 
regere  imperantis  ?  a  tergo  ponis  quod  imperat?  Egre- 
giuiri  autem  habet  virtus  apud  vos  officiuni  voluptates 
praegustare.  Sed  videbimus,  an  apud  quos  tarn  con- 
tumeliose  tractata  virtue  est,  adhuc  virtus  sit :  quae  ha¬ 
bere  nomen  suum  non  potest,  si  loco  cessit :  interim,  de 
quo  agitur,  multos  ostendam  voluptatibus  obsesses,  in 
quos  fortuna  omnia  munera  sua  ehudit,  quos  fatearis 
necesse  est,  males.  3.  Adspice  Nomentanum  et  Api- 
cium,  terrarum  ac  maris,  ut  isti  vocant,  bona  conqui- 
rentis  et  super  mensam  recognoscentis  omnium  gen¬ 
tium  animalia.  Vide  hos  eosdem  e  suggestu  rosae 
spectantis  popinam  suam,  aures  vocum  sono,  spectacu- 


146 


L.  ANNAEI  SENECAE 


lis  oculos,  eaporibus  palatum  suiim  delectantes :  molli- 
bus  lenibusque  fomentis  totiiiA  lacessitur  eorum  corpus 
et,  ne  nares  interim  cessent,  odoribus  variis  inficitur  lo- 
cuS  ipse,  in  quo  luxuriae  parentatur.  Hoc  esse  in  vo- 
luptatibus  dices ;  nec  tamen  illis  bene  erit,  quia  non 
bono  gaudeiit. 

XII.  Male,  inquit,  illis  erit,  quia  multa  interveniunt, 
quae  perturbent  animum,  et  opiniones  inter  se  contra- 
riae  mentem  inquietabunt :  quod  ita  esse  concede  :  sed 
nihilominus  illi  ipsi  stulti  et  inaeqiiales  et,  sub  ictu  poe- 
nitentiae  positi  magnas  percipient  voluptates,  ut  faten- 
dum  sit  tarn  longe  turn  illos  ab  omni  molestia  abesse 
quam  a  bona  mente  et,  quod  plerisque  contingit,  liila- 
rem  insaniam  insanire  ac  per  risum  furere.  2.  At  con¬ 
tra  sapientium  remissae  voluptates  et  modestae  ac  pae- 
ne  languidae  sunt  conpressaeque  et  vix  notabiles,  ut 
quae  neque  accersitae  veniant  nec,  quamvis  per  se  ac- 
cesserint,  in  bonore  sint  neque  ullo  gaudio  percipien- 
tium  exceptae :  miscent  enim  illas  et  interponunt  vitae 
ut  ludum  iocumque  inter  seria.  Desinant  ergo  incon- 
venientia  iungere  et  virtuti  voluptatem  inplicare,  per 
quod  vitium  pessimis  quibusque  adulantur.  3.  Hie 
effusus  in  voluptates,  ructabundus  semper  atque  ebri- 
us,  quia  scit  se  cum  voluptate  vivere,  credit  et  cum 
virtute :  audit  enim  voluptatem  separari  a  virtute  non 
posse :  deinde  vitiis  snis  sapientiam  inscribit  et  abscon- 
denda  profitetur.  Itaque  non  ab  Epiciiro  inpulsi  Inxu- 
riantur,  sed  vitiis  dediti  luxuriam  suam  in  pbilosopliiae 
sinu  abscondnnt  et  eo  concnrrunt,  ubi  audiant  laudari 
voluptatem.  '4.  Xec  aestimatur  voliiptas  ilia  Epicuri 
(ita  enim  mehercules  sentio)  quam  sobria  ac  sicca  sit: 
sed  ad  nomen  ipsum  advolant  quaerentes  libidinibus 


DE  VITA  BEATA.  CAP.  XIII. 


147 


siiis  patrocininm  aliqiiod  ac  velamentiim.  Itaque  quod 
uiiiim  habebaiit  in  inalis  bonum  perdiiiit,  peccaiidi  ve- 
recuiidiam :  landant  enim  ea,  quibiis  erubescebant  et 
vitio  gloriantur :  ideoque  ne  resurgere  quidem  adii- 
lescentiae  licet,  cmn  honestus  turpi  desidiae  titulus 
accessit. 

XIII.  Hoc  est  cur  ista  voluptatis  laudatio  perniciosa 
sit,  quia  lionesta  praecepta  intra  latent,  quod  corrumpit 
adparet.  In  ea  quidem  ipsa  sententia  sum  (invitis  hoc 
nostris  popularibus  dicam)  sancta  Epicnrum  et  i*ecta 
praecipere  et,  si  propius  accesseris,  tristia :  voluptas 
enim  ilia  ad  parvum  et  exile  revocatur  et  quam  nos 
virtuti  legem  dicimus,  earn  ille  dicit  volnptati.  2. 
lubet  illam  parere  naturae :  parum  est  autem  luxuriae 
quod  naturae  satis  est.  Quid  ergo  est?  ille.quisquis 
desidiosum  otium  et  gulae  ac  libidinis  vices,  felicitate m 
vocat,  bonum'  malae  rei  quaerit  auctoreiri  et,  dum  illo 
venit  blando  nomine  inductus,  sequitnr  voluptatem,  non 
quam  audit,  sed  quam  adtulit ;  et  vitia  sua  cum  coepit 
putare  similia  praeceptis,  indulget  illis  non  timide  nec 
obscure :  luxuriatur  etiam  inde  aperto  capite.  Itaque 
non  dico,  quod  plerique  nostrorum,'^ke%ta'ih  Epicuri  11a- 
gitiorum  magistram  esse,  sed  illud  dico,  male  audit,  in- 
famis  est,  et  inmerito.  3.  Hoc  scire  quis  potest  nisi  in- 
terius  admissus?  Frons  eius  ipsa  dat  locum  fabulae  et 
ad  malam  spem  inritat.  Hoc  tale  est,  quale  vir  fortis 
stolam  indutus.  Constant!  tibi  pudicitiae  veritas  salva 
est  ;  nulli  corpus  tuum  turpi  patientiae  vacat,  sed  in 
manu  tympanum  est.  Titulus  itaque  honestus  eligatur 
et  inscriptio  ipsa  excitans  animum  ad  ea  depellenda 
quae  statim  enervant  cum  venerunt  vitia.  4.  Quisquis 
ad  virtutem  accessit,  dedit  gen erosae  in dolis  spem:  qui 


148 


L.  ANNAEI  SENECAE 


volnptatem  seqnitur,  videtur  enervis,  fractiis,  degene- 
rans  vir,  perveiituras  in  tnrpia,  nisi  aliqnis  distinxerit 
illi  volnptates,  nt  sciat,  qnae  ex  eis  intra  natnrale  desi- 
derium  desistant,  qnae  praeceps  ferantnr^  infinitaeque 
sint  et,  qno  magis  inplentnr,  eo  magis  inexplebiles. 
Agednm,  virtus  antecedat  :  tntnm  erit  omne  vestigi¬ 
um.  Et  voluptas  nocet  nimia;  in  virtute  non  est  ve- 
rendum,  ne  quid  nimium  sit,  quia  in  ipsa  est  modus. 
Non  est  bonum,  quod  magnitudine  laborat  sua. 

Xiy.  Kationabileni  porro  sortitis  naturam  quae  me¬ 
lius  res  quam  ratio  proponitur?  et  si  placet  ista  iunc- 
tura  [si  hoc  placet  ad  beatam  vitam  ire  comitatu],  vir¬ 
tus  antecedat,  comitetur  voluptas  et  circa  corpus  ut 
umbra  versetiir.  Virtutem  quidem,  excelsissimam  om¬ 
nium,  voluptati  tradere  ancillam  nihil  magnum  animo 
capientis  est.  Prima  virtus  sit,  haec  ferat  signa:  ha- 
bebimns  nihilominus  voluptatem,  sed  domini  eius  et 
temperatores  erimus :  aliquid  nos  exorabit,  nihil  coget. 
2.  At  ei,  qui  voluptati  tradidere  principia,  utroque  ca- 
riiere :  virtutem  enim  amittunt :  ceterum  non  ipsi  vo¬ 
luptatem,  sed  ipsos  voluptas  habet,  cuius  ant  inopia  tor- 
qnentur  ant  copia  strangulantiir.  Miseri,  si  deseruntur 
ab  ilia,  miseriores,  si  obruuntur!  sicut  deprensi  mari 
Syrtico  modo  in  sicco  relinquuntur,  modo  torrente 
nnda  fluctuantur.  3.  Evenit  autem  hob  nimia  intem- 
perantia  et  amore  caecae  rei:  nam  mala  pro  bonis^pe- 
tenti  periculosum  est  adsequi.  Ut  feras  cum  labore 
periculoque  venamur  et  captarum  quoque  illarum  solli- 
cita  possessio  est  (saepe  enim  laniant  dominos) :  ita  ha- 
bentes  magnas  voluptates  in  magnum  malum  evasere 
captaeque  cepere.  Quae  quo  plures  maioresque  sunt, 
eo  ille  minor  ac  plurium  servus  est,  quern  felicem  vol- 


DE  VITA  BEATA.  CAP,  XV. 


149 


gus  aclpellat.  4.  Permanere  libet  in  hac  etiamnnnc 
Imiiis  rei  imagine :  qnemaiimodiim  qiii  bestiaram  cnbi- 
lia  indagat  et  laqueo  cajqtare  feras  magno  aestimat  et 
latos  canibus  circiimdare  saltus^  lit  illarum  vestigia 
premat,  potiora  deserit  miiltisqiie  officiis  reniintiat :  ita 
qni  sectatur  volnptatem,  omnia  postponit  et  primam 
libertatem  neglegit  ac  pro  ventre  dependit ;  nec  vo- 
luptates  sibi  emit,  sed  se  voluptatibus  vendit.  ^ 

Xy.  Quid  tamen,  inqnit,  prohibet  in  iinum  virtntem 
voluptatemque  confiindi  et  effici  snmmum  bonum,  nt 
idem  et  honestum  et  iucnndum  sit  ?  Quia  pars  honesti 
non  potest  esse  nisi  honestum :  nec  summum  bonum 
liabebit  sinceritatem  suam,  si  aliquid  in  se  viderit  dis- 
simile  meliori.  Ne  gaudium  quidem  quod  ex  virtu te 
oritur,  quamvis  bonum  sit,  absoluti  tamen  boni  pars  est, 
non  magis  quam  laetitia'  et  tranquillitas,  quamvis  ex 
pulcherrimis  causis  nascantnr.  2.  Sunt  enim  ista  bona, 
sed  consequeiltia  summum  bonum,  non  consummantia. 
Qiii  vero  virtutis  voluptatisque  societatem  facit  et  ne 
ex  aeqno  qiiidem,  fragilitate  alterius  boni,  quicquid  in 
altero  vigoris  est^  hebetat,^  libertatemque  illam,  ita  de- 
mnm,  si  niliil  se  pretiosius  novit,  invictam,  sub  iugnm 
mittit.  Xam,  quae  maxima  servitus  est,  incipit  illi 
opus  esse  fortnna  :  sequitnr  vit^  anxia,  susj)iciosa,  tre- 
pida,  casum  pavens:  temporum  suspensa  momenta  sunt. 
3.  Xon  das  virtiiti  fundamentum  grave,  inmobile,  sed 
iubes  illam  in  loco  volubili  stare.  Quid  autem  tarn 
volubile  est,  quam  fortuitorum  exspectatio  et  corporis 
rerumque  corpus  adficientiuih  varietas?  Quomodo  liic 
potest  deo  parere  et  quicquid  evenit,  bono  animo  exci- 
pere  nec  de  fato  queri  casuum  suorum  benign  us  inter- 
pres,  si  ad  voluptatum  dolorumque,punctiunculas  con- 

G  2 


150 


L.  ANNAEI  BENEOAE 


cutitur  ?  Sed  ne  patriae  qnidem  bonus  tutor  aut  vin- 
dex  est  nee  ainicorum  propngnator,  si  ad  voluptates 
vergit.  4.  Illo  ergo  sun^mum  bonum  adscendat,  unde 
nulla  vi  detrabitur ;  quo  neque  dolori  neque  spei  nee 
timori  sit  aditus  nee  ulli  rei,  quae  deterius  surami  boni 
ius  faciat.  Escendere  autem  illo  sola  virtus  potest : 
illius  gradu  clivus  iste  frangendus  est :  ilia  fortiter  sta- 
bit  et  quicquid  evenerit,  feret  non  patiens  tantunq  sed 
etiam  volens  :  omnemque  temporum  dilScultatein  sciet 
legem  esse  naturae.  5.  Et,  ut  bonus  miles  feret  vol- 


nera,  enumerabit  ci6afnces  et  transverberatus  telis  mo- 
riens  amabit  eum,  pro  quo  cadet,  imperatorem :  liabe- 
bit  illud  in  animo  vetus  praeceptum,  deum  sequere. 
Quisquis  autem  queritur  et  plorat  et  gemit,  imperata 
facere  vi  cogitur  et  invitus  rapitur  ad  iussa  nihilomi- 
nus.  Quae  autem  dementia  est  potius  train  quain  se- 
qui  ?  6.  Tam  meliercules  quam  stultitia  et  ignorantia 
'  condicionis  est  suae  dolere,  quod  aliquid  tibi  incidit 
durius,  aut  mirari  aut  indigne  ferre  ea,  quae  tarn  bonis 
accidunt  quam  malis  :  morbos  dico,  funei’a,  debilitates 
et  cetera  ex  transverse  in  vitam  humanam  incurrentia. 
Quicquid  ex  universi  constitutione  patiendum  est,  mag- 
no  usurpetur  animo  :  ad  hoc  sacramentum  adacti  su- 
mus,  ferre  mortalia  nec  perturbari  iis,  quae  vitare  non 
est  nostrae  potestatis.  In  regno  nati  sumus:  deo  pa- 
rere  libertas  est. 

XYI.  Ergo  in  virtute  posita  est  verd  felicita^.  Quid 
haec  virtus  tibi  suadebit?  ne  quid  aut  bonum  aut  ma¬ 
lum  existimes,  quod  nec  virtute  nec  malitia  contiiiget : 
deinde,’  ut  sis  inmobilis  et  contra  malum  ex  bono,  ut 
qua  fas  est,  deum  efSngas.  Quid  tibi  pro  hac  expedi- 
tione  promittit?  ingentia  et  aequa  divinis.  Niliil  co- 


DE  VITA  BEATA.  CAP.  XVII. 


151 


geris ;  niillo  indigebis  ;  liber  eris,  tutus,  indemnis  :  ni¬ 
hil  frustra  temptabis,  nihil  prohibeberis ;  omnia  tibi  ex 
sententia  cedent :  nihil  adversiim  accidet,  nihil  contra 
opinionem  ac  volimtatem.  2.  Quid  ergo  ?  virtus  ad 
beate  vivendum  sufficit?  Perfecta  ilia  et  divina  quidni 
sufSciat,  imrao  superfluat  ?  Quid  enim  deesse  potest 
extra  desiderium  omnium. posito?  quid  extrinsecus  opus 
est  ei,  qui  omnia  sua  in  se  collegit  ?  Sed  ei,  qui  ad  vir- 
tutem  tendit,  etiam  si  multum  processit,  opus  est  aliqua 
fortunae  indiilgentia  adhuc  inter  humana  luctanti,  dum 
nodum  ilium  exsolvit  et  oinne  vinculum  mortale.  Quid 
ergo  interest  ?  quod  alii  adligati  sunt,  alii  adstricti,  alii 
destricti  qiioque.  Ilic,  qui  ad  superiora  progressus  est 
et  se  altius  extulit,  laxam  catenam  trahit  nondum  liber, 
iam  tamen  pro  libero. 

XYII.  Si  quis  itaque  ex  istis,  qui  philosophiam  con- 
latraiit,  quod  solent,  dixerit :  Quare  ergo  tu  fortius  lo- 
queris  quam  vivis  ?  Quare  superiori  verba  submittis  et 
pecuniam  necessarium  tibi  instrumentum  existimas  et 
damno  moveris  et  lacrimas  audita  coningis  aut  amici 
morte'  demittis  et  respicis  famam  et  malignis  sermoni- 
bus  tangeris  ?  2.  Quare  cultius  rus  tibi  est  quam  natu- 

ralis  usus  desiderat?  cur  non  ad  praescriptum  tuum  coe- 
nas?  cur  tibi  nitidior  supellex  est?  cur  apud  te  vinum 
aetate  .tua  vetustius  bibitur  ?  cur  annuum  disponitur  ? 
cur  arbores  nihil  praeter  umbram  daturae  conservan- 
tur  ?  quare  uxor  tua  locupletis  domus  censum  auribus 
gerit?  quare  paedagogium  pretiosa  veste  subcingitur? 
quare  ars  est  apud  te  ministrare  nec  temere  et  ut  libet 
conlocatur  argentum,  sed  perite  servitur  et  est  aliquis 
scindendi  obsonii  magister  ?  3.  Adice,  si  vis,  cur  trans 

mare  possides?  cur  plura  quam  nosti  ?  turpiter  aut  tarn 


152 


L.  ANNAEI  SENECAE 


neglegens  es,  iit  non  noveris  paiicnlos  servos,  ant  tarn 
Inxnriosiis,  ut  plures  habeas  qnam  quorum  notitiae  me- 
moria  sufficiat.  Adiuvabo  postmodo,  convicia  et  plura 
milii  quam  putas  obiciam,  nunc  hoc  respondeo  tibi :  Non 
sum  Sapiens  et,  ut  malivolentiam  tuam  pascam,nec  ero. 
4.  Exige  itaque  a  me,  ut  non  optimis  par  sim,  sed  ut 
malis  melior :  hoc  mihi  satis  est,  cotidie  aliquid  ex  vi- 
tiis  meis  demere  et  errores  meos  obiurgare.  Non  per- 
veni  ad  sanitatem,  ne  perveniam  quidem  :  delenimenta 
magis  quam  remedia  podagrae  meae  conpono,  conten- 
tus,  si  rarius  accedit  et  si  minus  verminatur.  Vestris 
quidem  pedibus  conparatus  debilis  cursor  sum. 

XVIII.  Ilaec  non  pro  me  loquor ;  ego  enim  in  alto 
vitiorum  omnium  sum ;  sed  pro  illo,  cui  aliquid  acti 
est.  Aliter,  inquit,  loqueris,  aliter  vivis.  Hoc,  malig- 
nissima  capita  et  optimo  cuique  inimicissima,  Plato- 
ni  obiectum  est,  obiectum  Epicure,  obiectum  Zenoni. 
Omnes  enim  isti  dicebant  non  quemadmodum  ipsi  vi- 
verent,  sed  quemadmodum  esset  ipsis  yivendum.  De 
virtute,  non  de  me  loquor,  et  cum  vitiis  convicium  fa¬ 
cie,  in  primis  meis  facio  :  cum  potuero,  vivam  quomo- 
do  oportet.  2.  Nec  malignitaS  me  ista  multo  veneno 
tincta  deterrebit  ab  optimis :  ne  yirus  quidem  istud, 
quo  alios  spargitis,  quo  vos  necatis,  me  inpediet,  quo 
minus  perseverem  laudare  vitam,  non  quam  ago,  sed 
quam  agendam  scio,  quo  minus  virtutem  et  ex  inter- 
vallo  ingenti  reptabundus  sequar.  3.  Exspectabo  scili¬ 
cet,  ut  quicquam  malivolentiaeinviolatum  sit,  cui  sacer 
nec  Rutilius  fuit  nec  Cato  ?  Cur  et  aliqui  non  istis  ni- 
mis  diveS  videatur,  quibus  Demetrius  Cynicus  parum 
pauper  est  ?.  virum  acerrimum  et  contra  omnia  naturae 
desideria  pugnantem,  hoc  pauperioi’em  quam  ceteros 


DE  VITA  BEATA.  CAP.  XIX. 


153 


Cynicos,  quod,  cum  sibi  interdixerit  habere,  interdixit 
et  poscere,  negant  satis  egere.  Yides  eniin  ?  non  vir- 
tutis  scientiam,  sed  egestatis  professus  est. 

XIX.  Diodorum,  Epicureum  pliilosophum,  qui  intra 
paucos  dies  finem  vitae  suae  manu  sua  inposuit,  uegant 
ex  decreto  Epicuri  fecisse,  quod  sibi  gulam  praesecuit : 
alii  dementiam  videri  volunt  factum  hoc  eius,  alii  te- 
meritatem :  ille  interim  beatus  ac  plenus  bona  consci- 
eiitia  reddidit  sibi  testimonium  vita  excedeiis  laudavit- 
que  aetatis  in  portu  et  ad  an  coram  actae  quietem  et 
dixit,  quod  vos  inviti  audistis,  quasi  vobis  quoque  faci¬ 
endum  sit : 

Vixi  et  quern  dederat  cursum  fortuna  peregi. 

2.  De  alteriiis  vita,  de  alterius  morte  disputatis  et  ad 
nomen  magnorum  ob  aliquam  eximiam  laudem  viro- 
rum,  sicut  ad  occursum  ignotorum  hominum  minuti 
canes,  latratis.  Expedit  enim  vobis  neminem  videri 
bonum,  quasi  aliena  virtus  exprobratio  delictorum 
vestrorum  sit.  Invidi  splendida  Qum  sordibus  vestris 
confertis  nec  intellegitis,  quanto  id  vestro  detrimento 
audeatis.  Xam  si  illi,  qui  virtutem  sequuntur,  avari, 
libidinosi,  ambitiosique  sunt  ;  quid  vos  estis,  quibus 
ipsum  nomen  virtutis  odio  est?  Xegatis  quemquam 
praestare,  quae  eloquitur,  nec  ad  exemplar  orationis 
suae  vivere.  3.  Quid  mi  rum,  cum  loquantur  fortia, 
ingentia,  omnes  humanas  tempestates  evadentia  ?  cum 
refigere  se  crucibus  conentur,  in  quas  unusquisque 
vestrum  clavos  suos  ipse  adicit  ?  ad  suppliciurn  tamen 
acti  stipitibus  singulis  pendent.  Hi,  qui  in  se  ipsi  ani- 
mum  advertunt,  quot  cupiditatibus  tot  crucibus  distra- 
liuntur :  aut  maledicl  in  alienam  contumeliam  venusti 


154 


L.  ANNAEI  SENECAE 


sunt.  Crederem  illis  hoc  vacare,  nisi  qnidam  ex  pati- 
bulo  siios  spectatores  conspiierent. 

XX.  Non  praestant  philosoplii  quae  loquuntur. 
Multum  tamen  praestant  quod  loquuntur,  quod  hon- 
esta  mente  concipiunt.  Nam  quidem  si  et  paria  dictis 
agerent,  quid  esset  illis  beating  ?  interim  non  est  quod 
contemnas  bona  verba  et  bonis  cogitationibus  plena 
praecordia.  Studiormn  salutarium  etiam  citra  effec- 
tum  laudanda  tractatio  est.  Quid  mirum,  si  non  escen- 
dunt  in  altum.  ardua  adgressi?  sed  si  vir  es,  suspice,  et- 
iain  si  decidunt,  magna  cOnantis.  2.  Generosa  res  est  re- 
spicientem  non  ad  suas,  sed  ad  naturae  suae  vires  cona- 
ri  alta,  temptare  et  mente.  maiora  con cipere,  quam  quae 
etiam  ingenti  animo  adornatis  effici  possunt.  Qui  sibi 
hoc  proposuit :  Ego  mortem  eodem  voltu  audiam  quo 
videbo  :  ego  laboribus,  quanticnmque  illi  erunt,  parebo 
animo  fulciens  corpus:  ego  divitias  et  praesentes  et  ab- 
sentes  aeque  conternnam  nec,  si  alicubi  iacebunt,  tris- 
tior  nec,  si  circa  me  fulgebunt,  animosior.  Ego  fortu- 
nam  nec  venientem  sentiam  nec  recedentem :  ego  ter¬ 
ras  ornnes  tamquam  meas  videbo,  meas  tamquam  om¬ 
nium  :  ego  sic  vivarn  quasi  sciam^'aliis  me  natum  et 
naturae*"  rerum  hoc  nomine  gratias  again.  3.  Quo 
enim  melius  genere  negotiurn  meum  agere  potuit  ? 
unum  me  donavit  omnibus,  uni  mihi  omnis  :  quicquid 
habebo,  nec  sordide  custodiam  nec  prodige  spargam : 
nihil  magis  possidere  me  credam  quam  bene  donata : 
non  numero  nec  pondere  beneficia  nec  ulla  nisi  acci- 
pientis  aestimatione  perpendam :  numquam  id  mihi 
multum  erit,  quod  dignus  accipiet :  nihil  opinionis 
causa,  omnia  conscientiae  faciam  :  populo  spectante 
fieri  credam,  quicquid  me  conscio  faciam.  4.  Edendi 


DE  VITA  BEATA.  CAP.  XXI. 


155 


mihi  erit  bibeiidiqiie  finis  desideria  naturae  restingu- 
ere,  non  inplere  alvum  et  exinanire  :  ego  amicis  iucun- 
dus,  inimicis  mitis  et  facilis  exorabor  antequam  roger  : 
honestis  precibus  occiirram  :  patriam  meam  esse  mun- 
durn  sciam  et  praesides  deos ;  bos  supra  me  circaque 
me  stare  factorum  dictorumque  c^sbres'r*  quandoque 
aut  natura  spiritum  repetet  aut  ratio  dimittet,  testatus 
exibo  bonam  me  conscientiam  amasse,  bona  studia, 
nullius  per  me  libertatem  deminutam,  minime  meam. 

XXI.  Qui  haec  facere  proponet,  voletj  temptabit,  ad 
deos  iter  faciet :  nae  ille,  etiam  si  non  tenuerit,  magnis 
tamen  excidit  ausis.  Yos  quidem,  quod  virtutem  cul- 
toremque  eius  odistis,  nihil  novi  facitis :  nam  et  solem 
lumina  aegra  formidant  et  aversantur  dieni  splendi- 
dum  nocturna  animalia,  quae  ad  primum  eius  ortum 
stupent  et  latibula  sua  passim  petunt,  abduntur  in  ali- 
quas  rimas  timida  lucis.  Gemite  et  infelicem  linguam 
bonorum  exercete  convicio ;  hiscite,  conmordete :  citius 
multo  frail getis  dentes  quam  inprimetis.  2.  Quare  ille 
pliilosophiae  studiosus  est  et  tarn  di\'es  vitam  agit  ? 
quare  opes  contemnendas  dicit  et  habet  ?  vitam  con- 
temnendam  putat  et  tamen  vivit  ?  valitudinem  con- 
temnendam  et  tamen  illam  diligentissime  tuetur  at- 
que  optimam  mavult  ?  et  exilium  vanum  nomen  pu¬ 
tat  et  ait,  quid  enim  est  mali  mutare  regiones  ?  et 
tamen,  si  licet,  senescit  in  patria  ?  et  inter  longius 
tempus  et  brevius  nihil  interesse  iudicat ;  tamen,  si  ni¬ 
hil  prohibet,  extendit  aetatem  et  in  multa  senectute 
placidus  viret  ?  3.  Ait  ista  debere  contemni ;  non,  ne 

habeat,  sed  ne  sollicitus  habeat :  non  abigit  ilia  a  se, 
sed  abeuntia  securus  prosequitur.  Divitias  quidem 
ubi  tutius  fortuna  deponet  quam  ibi,  unde  sine  querela 


156  L.  ANNAEI  SENECAE 

reddentis  receptura  est  ?  M.  Cato  cum  laudaret  Curi¬ 
um  et  Coruncanium  et  illud  seculumj4n  quo  censorium 
crimen  erat  paucae  argenti  lamellae,  possidebat  ipse 
quadragies  sestertium,  minus  sine  dubio  quam  Crassus, 
plus  quam  Censorius  Cato.  Maiore  spatio,  si  conparen- 
tur,  proavum  vicerat,  quam  a  Crasso  vinceretur.  Et,  si 
maiores  illi  obvenissent  opes,  non  sprevisset :  nec  enim 
se  sapiens  indignum  ullis  muneribus  fortuitis  putat. 
]^on  amat  divitias,  sed  mavult :  non  in  animum  illas, 
sed  in  domum  recipit :  nec  respuit  possessas,  sed  conti- 
net  et  maiorem  virtuti  suae  materiam  subministrari  vult. 

XXII.  Quid  autein  dubii  est,  quin  haec  maior  mate¬ 
ria  sapienti  viro  sit  animum  explicandi  suum  in  divitiis 
quam  in  paupertate  ?  cum  in  liac  unum  genus  virtutis 
sit  non  inclinari  nec  deprimi,  in  divitiis  et  temperantia 
et  liberalitas  et  diligentia  et  dispositio  et  magnificentia 
campum  habeat  patentem.  Xon  contemnet  se  sapiens, 
etiam  si  f uerit  rninimae  staturae  ;  esse  tamen  se  proce- 
rum  volet :  et  exilis  corpore  ac  amisso  oculo  valebit ; 
malet  tamen  sibi  esse  corporis  robur.  2.  Et  hoc  ita, 
ut  sciat  esse  aliud  in  se  valentius  :  malam  valitudinem 
tolerabit,  bonam  optabit.  Quaedam  enim,  etiam  si  in 
summam  rei  parva  sunt,  et  subduci  sine  ruina  princi¬ 
palis  boni  possunt,  adiciunt  tamen  aliquid  ad  perpetu- 
am  laetitiam  et  ex  virtute  nascentem.  Sic  ilium  adfi- 
ciunt  divitiab  et  exliilarant,  ut  navigantem^  secundus 
et  ferens  ventus,  ut  dies  bonus  et  in  bruma  ac  frigore 
apricus  locus.  3.  Quis  porro  sapientum,  nostrorum  dico, 
quibus  unum  est  bonum  virtus,  negat  etiam  haec,  quae 
indillerentia  ,vocamus,  habere  in  se  aliquid  pretii  et 
ali^  aliis  esse  potiora  ?  Quibusdanqex  iis  tribuitur  ali¬ 
quid  honoris,  quibusdam  niultum.  Xe  erres  itaque, 


DE  VITA  BE  AT  A.  CAP.  XXIH. 


157 


inter  potiora  divitiae  snnt.  4.  Quid  ergo,  inqiiis,  me 
derides,  cum  eumdem  apud  te  locum  liabeant,  quern 
apud  me  ?  Yis  scire,  quam  non  liabeant  eumdem  lo¬ 
cum  ?  mibi  divitia6  si  elfluxerint,  nibil  auferent  nisi 
semetipsas :  tu  stupebis  et  videberis  tibi  sine  te  re- 
lictus,  si  illae  a  te  recesserint :  apud  me  divitiae  ali- 
quem  locum  babent,  apud  te  sum  mum  ac  postremum  : 
divitiae  meae  sunt,  tu  divitiarum  es. 

XXIII.  Desine  ergo  |)bilosopbis  pecunia  interdicere  : 
nemo  sapientiam  paupertate  damnavit.  Habebit  pbi- 
losopbu^  amplas  opes,  sed  nulli  detractas  iiec  alieno  san¬ 
guine  cruentas,  sine  cuiusquam  iniuria  partas,  sine  sor- 
didis  quaestibus,  quarum  tarn  bonestus  sit  exitus  quam 
introitus,  quibus  nemo  ingemiscat  nisi  malignus.  In 
quantum  vis  exaggera  illas,  honestae  sunt :  in  quibus 
cum  multa  sint,  quae  sua  quisque  dici  velit,  nibil  est, 
quod  quisquam  suum  possit  dicere.  2.  Ille  vero  fortu- 
nae  benignitatem  a  se  non  submovebit  et  patrinidriio 
per  bonesta  quaesito  nec  gloriabitur  nec  erubescet. 
Habebit  tamen  etiam  quo  glorietur,  si  aperta  domo  et 
admissa  in  res  suas  civitate  poterit  dicere  :  Quod  quis¬ 
que  agnoverit,  tollat.  O  magnum  virum,  optime  divi- 
tem,si  post  banc  vocem  tantiimdem  babuerit !  ita  dico, 
si  tuto  et  securuS  scrutationem  populo  praebuerit,  si 
nibil  quisquam  apud  ilium  invenerit,  quo  manus  ini- 
ciat ;  audacter  et  propalam  erit  dives.  3.  Sapiens  nul¬ 
lum  denarium  intra  limen  suum  admittet  male  intran- 
tem :  idem  magiias  opes,  inunus  fortunae  fructumque 
virtutis,  non  repudiabit  nec  excludet.  Quid  enim  est 
quare  illis  bono  loco  invideat  ?  veniant,  hospitentpr. 
Nec  iactabit  illas  nec  abscondet :  alterum  infruniti 
animi  est,  alterum  timidi  et  pusilli  velut  magnum  bo- 


158 


L.  ANNAEI  SENECAE 


num  intra  siimm  continentis :  nec,  ut  dixi,  eiciet  illas 
e  domo.  Quid  enim  dicet?  utriimne,  Inutiles  estis,  an, 
Ego  nti  divitiis  nescio  ?  4.  Quemadmodum  etiam  pedi- 
bus  suis  poterit  iter  conficere,  escendere  tamen  vehicn- 
lum  malet :  sic  pauper,  si  poterit  esse  dives,  volet,  et 
liabebit  ntique  opes,  sed  tamquam  leves  et  avolaturas : 
nec  ulli  alii  nec  sibi  graves  esse  patietnr.  Quid  ?  Do- 
nabit :  quid  erexistis  aures  ?  quid  expeditis  siiium  ? 
donabit  aut  bonis  ant  eis,  quos  facere  poterit  bonos : 
donabit  cum  summo  consilio  dignissimos  eligens,  ut 
qui  meminerit  tain  expensorum  quam  acceptorum  ra- 
tionem  esse  reddendam :  donabit  ex  recta  et  probabili 
causa :  nam  inter  turpes  lac^uras  malum  munus  est. 
Habebit  sinum  facilem,  non  perforatum,  ex  quo  multa 
exeant  et  nihil  excidat. 

XXIY.  Errat,  si  quis  existimat  facilem  rem  esse  do- 
nare.  Plurimuni  ista  re^  habet  difficultatis,  si  modo 
consilio  tribuitur,  non  casu  et  inpetu  spargitur.  Hunc 
promereor,  illi  reddo :  nuic  succurro,  hums  misereor : 
ilium  instrup  dignum  quern  non  deducat  paupertas  nec 
occupatum  teneat :  quibusdam  non  dabo,  quamvis  de¬ 
sit  ;  quia,  etiam  si  dedero,  erit  defuturum :  quibusdam 
offeram,  quibusdam  etiam  inculcabo.  Xon  possum  in 
hac  re  esse  neglegens  :  numquam  magis  nomina  facio, 
quam  cum  dono.  2.  Quid  ?  tu,  inquis,  recepturus  do¬ 
nas  ?  Immo  non  perditurus.  Eo  loco  sit  donatio,  unde 
repeti  non  debeat,  reddi  possit.  Beneficium  conlocetur, 
quemadmodum  thesaurus  alte  obrutus ;  quern  non  eruas, 
nisi  fuerit  necesse.  Quid?  domus  ipsa  divitis  viri  quan- 
tam  habet  benefaciendi  materiam  ?  Quis  enim  liberali- 
tatem  tantum  ad  togatos  vocat  ?  hominibus  prodesse 
natura  iubet :  servi  liberine  sint  hi,  ingcnui  an  libertini, 


DE  VITA  BEATA.  CAP.  XXV. 


159 


iustae  libertatis  an  inter  amicos  datae,  quid  refert?  nbi- 
cumqne  homo  est,  ibi  benehcii  locus  est.  3.  Potest  ita- 
que  pecuniam  etiam  intra  limen  siium  diffundere  et  li- 
beralitatem  exercere;  quae  non  quialiberis  debetur,sed 
quia  a  libero  animo  proficiscitur,  ita  nominata  est.  Haec 
apud  sapientem  nec  umquam  in  turpes  indignosque  in- 
pingitur  nec  umquam  ita  defatigata  errat,  ut  non,  quo- 
tiens  dignum  invenerit,  quasi  ex  pleno  fluat.  Non  est 
ergo,  quod  perperarn  exaudiatis,  quae  honeste,  fortiter, 
animose  a  studiosis  sapientiae  dicuntur :  et  hoc  primum 
adtendite.  1 4.  Aliud  est  studiosus  sapientiae,  aliud  iam 
adeptus  sapientiam.  Ille  tibi  dicet ;  Optime  loquor,  sed 
adhuc  inter  mala  volutor  plurima :  non  est,  quod  me  ad 
formulam  meam  exigas :  cum  maxime  facio  me  et  for- 
mo  et  ad  exemplar  ingens  adtollo :  si  processero  quan- 
tumcumque  proposui,  exige  ut  dictis  facta  respondeant. 
Adsecutus  vero  humani  boni  summa  aliter  tecum  aget 
et  dicet ;  Primum  non  est,  quod  tibi  permittas  de  meli- 
oribus  ferre  sententiam  :  mihi  iam,  quod  argumentum 
est  recti,  contingit  malis  displicere.  5.  Sed,  ut  tibi  ra- 
tionem  reddarn,  qua  nulli  mortalium  invideo,  audi  quid 
promittam  et  quanti  quaeque  aestimem.  Divitias  nego 
bonum  esse  :  nam  si  essent,  bonos  facerent ;  nunc  quon- 
iam,  quod  apud  malos  deprehenditur,  dici  bonum  non 
potest,  hoc  illis  nomen  nego :  ceterum  et  habendas  esse  ^ 
et  utiles  et  magna  commoda  vitae  adferentis  fateor.  / 
XXy.  Quid  ergo  est?  quare  illas  non  in  bonis  nume- 
rem  et  quid  praestem  in  illis  aliud  quam  vos,  quoniam 
inter  utrosque  convenit  habendas,  audite.  Pone  in  opu- 
lentissima  me  domo,  pone  ubi  auruin  argentumque^in 
promiscuo  usu  sit :  non  suspiciam  me  ob  ista  quae,  et¬ 
iam  si  apud  me  extra  me,  tamen  sunt.  In  sublicium 


160 


L.  ANNAEI  SENEOAE 


pontem  me  transfer  et  inter  egentes  abige:  non  ideo 
tamen  me  despiciam,  quod  in  illorum  numerOj  conse- 
derOj  qui  manum  ad  stipem  porrigiint :  quid' 6nim  ad 
rem,  an  frustum  panis  desit,  cui  non  deest  mori  posse? 
Quid  ergo  est?  domum  illam  splendidam  malo  quam 
pontem.  2.  Pone  in  instrumentis  splendentibus  et 
delicate  adparatu :  nihilo  me  feliciorem  credam,  quod 
mibi  molle  erit  amiculum,  quod  purpura  convivis  meis 
substernetur.  Nihilo  miserius  ero,  si  lassa  cervix  mea 
in  manipulo  foeni  adquiescet,  si  super  Circense  tomen- 
tum  per  sartufas  veteris  lintei  effluens  incubabo.  Quid 
ergo  est  ?  malo,  quid  mihi  animi  sit,  ostendere  praetex- 
tatus  et  chlamydatus  quam  niidis  scapulis  aut  semitec- 
tis.  3.  Omne6  mihi  ex  vote  dies  cedant ;  novae  gratu- 
lationes  prioribus  subtexantur  :  non  ob  hoc  mihi  place¬ 
bo.  Muta,  in  contrarium  hanc  indulgentiarn  temporis ; 
hinc  illinc  percutiatur  animus  damno,  luctu,  incursioni- 
bus  variis,  nulla  bora  sine  aliqua  querela  sit :  non  ideo 
me  dicam  inter  miserrima  miserum,  non  ideo  aliquem 
exsecrabor  diem :  provisum  est  enim  a  me,  ne  quis 
mihi  atef  die^  esset.  Quid  ergo  est?  malo  gaudia  tem- 
perare,  quam  dolores  conpescere.  4.  Hoc  tibi  ille  So¬ 
crates  dicet ;  Fac  me  victorem  imiversarum  gentium: 
delicatus  ille  Liberi  currus  triumphantem  usque  ad 
Thebas  a  soils  ortu  vehat :  iura  reges  Penatium  pe- 
tant :  me  hominem  esse  maxime  cogitabo,  cum  deus 
undique  consalutabor.  Hide  tarn  sublinii  fastigib  con- 
iunge  protinus  praecipitem  mutationem :  in  alien um 
inponar  fericulum  exornaturus  victoris  superbi  ac  feri 
pompam  :  non  humilior  sub  alieno  curru  agar  quam  in 
meo  steteram.  6.  Quid  ergo  est  ?  vincere  tamen  quam 
capi  malo.  Totum  fortunae  regnum  despiciam:  sed  ex 


DE  VITA  BEATA.  CAP.  XXVI. 


IGl 


illo,  si  dabitur  electio,  meliora  siimam.  Quicqui'd  ad  me 
venerit,  boniim  fiet ;  sed  male  faciliora  ae  iucundiora 
veniant  et  minus  vexatura  tractautem.  Non  est  enim, 
quod  existimes  ullam  esse  sine  labore  virtutem :  sed  quae- 
dam  virtutes  stimulis,  quaedam  frenis  egent.  Quem- 
admodurn  corpus  in  proclivi  retineri  debet,  ad  versus 
ardua  inpelli ;  ita  quaedam  virtutes  in  proclivi  sunt, 
quaedam  clivum  subeunt.  6.  An  dubium  sit,  quin  es- 
cendat,  nitatur,  obluctetur  patientia,  fortitude,  perseve- 
rantia  et  quaecum'que  alid  duris  opposita  virtus  est  et 
fortunam  subigit  ?  Quid  ergo  ?  non  aeque  manifes- 
tum  est  per  devexum  ire  liberalitatern,  temperantiam, 
mausuetudinem  ?  In  liis  continemus  anirnum,  ne  pro- 
labatur ;  in  illis  exhortarnur  incitamusque.  Acerrimas 
ei’go  paupertati  adbibebimus,  illas  quae  pngnare  sciunt, 
fortiores  :  divitiis  illas  diligentiores,  quae  suspensum 
gradum  ponunt  et  pondus  suum  sustinent. 

XX YI.  Cum  lioc  ita  di visum  sit,  malo  has  in  usu. 
milii  esse,  quae  exercendae  tranquillius  sunt,  quam  eas, 
quarum  experimentuni  sanguis  et  sudor  est.  Ergo  non 
ego  aliter,  inquit  sapiens,  vivo  quam  loquor,  sed  vos 
aliter  auditis.  Sonus  tantummodo  verborum  ad  aures 
vestras  pervenit :  quid  significet  non  quaeritis.  Quid 
ergo  inter  me  stultum  et  te  sapientem  interest,  si  uter- 
que  habere  volumus  ?  Plurimum.  Divitiae  enim  apud 
sapientem  virum  in  servitute  sunt,  apud  stultum  in  im- 
perio  :  saj)iens  divitiis  nihil  permittit,  vobis  divitiae 
omnia.  2.  Yos,  tarn  quam  aliqui^  vobis  aeternam  pos¬ 
sessionem  earum  promiserit,  adsuescitis  illis  et  cohaere- 
tis ;  sapient  tunc  maxime  paiipertatem  meditatur,  cum 
in  mediis  divitiis  constitit.  Numquam  imperator  ita 
paci  credit,  ut  non  se  praeparet  bello ;  quod  etiam  si 


162 


L.  ANNA  El  8ENE0AE 


lion  geritur,  indictiim  est.  Yos  domiis  forraosa,  tam- 
qnain  nec  ardere  nec  mere  possit,  insoleiites,  vos  opes, 
tainquam  periculum  omne  transcenderint  maioresque 
sint  vobis  qnam  quibns  consiimendis  satis  virium  lia- 
beat  fortnna,  obstiipefaciunt.  3.  Otiosi  divitiis  luditis 
nec  providetis  illamm  periculum  ;  sicut  barbari  ple- 
rumque,  inclusi  et  ignari  machinarum,  segues  laborem 
obsideiitiurn  spectant  nec  quo  ilia  pertineant,  quae  ex 
longinquo  struuntur,  intellegunt.  Idem  vobis  evenit : 
marcetis  in  vestris  rebus  nec  cogitatis,  quot  casus  undi- 
que  inmineant  iam  iamque  pretiosa  spolia  laturi.  Sapi¬ 
ent!  quisquis  abs^Je.rit  divitias,  omnia  illi  sua  relinquet: 
vivit  eiiirn  praesentibus  laetus,  f uturis  securus.  4.  ISii- 
liil  magis,  inquit  ille  Socrates  aut  aliquis  alius,  cui  idem 
ius  adversus  liumana  atque  eadem  potestas  est,  persuasi 
mihi,  quam  ne  ad  opiniones  vestras  actum  vitae  rneae 
flecterem.  Solita  conferte  undique  verba  :  non  convi- 
ciari  vos  putaboysed  vagire  velut  infantes  miserrimos. 
Ilaec  dicet  ille,  cui  sapientia  contigit,  quern  animus  viti- 
orum  in  munis  increpare  alios,  non  quia  odit,  sed  in  re¬ 
medium  iubet.  5.  Adiciet  his  ilia:  Existimatio  me  ves- 
tra  non  meo  nomine,  sed  vestro  movet,  quia  calamitates 
odisse,  et  lacessere  virtutem  bonae  spei  eiuratio  est. 
Kullam  mihi  iniuriam  facitis  :  sed  ne  dis  quidem  hi 
qui  aras  evertunt.  Sed  malum  propositum  adparet 
malumque  consilium  etiam  ibi,  ubi  nocere  non  potuit. 
6.  Sic  vestras  hallucinationes  fero  quemadmodum  lu- 
piter  optimus  maximus  ineptias  poetarum;  quorum  ali¬ 
us  illi  alas  inposuit,  alius  cornua,  alius  adulterum  ilium 
induxit  et  al]nqctantcm,  alius  saevum  in  deos,  alius  ini- 
quum  in  homines,  alius  raptoriim  ingenuorum  corrupto- 
rem  et  cognatorum  quidem,  alius  pai’ricidam  et  regni 


DE  VITA  BEATA.  CAP.  XXVII. 


163 


alieni  paternique  expugnatorem  :  quibns  nihil  aliud 
actum  estj  quam  ut  pudor  hominibus  peccandi  demere- 
tur,  si  tales  decs  credidissent.  Sed  quamquam  ista  me 
nihil  laedant,  vestra  vos  moneo  causa :  7.  Suspicite  vir- 
Jtutem :  credite  iis,  qui  illam  diu  secuti  magnum  quid- 
dam  ipsos  et  quod  in  dies  mains  adpareat,  sequi  cla¬ 
mant  ;  et  ipsam  ut  deos,  et  professores  eius  ut  antistites 
colite  :  et  quotiens  mentio  sacra  literarum  intervenerit, 
favete  linguis.  Hoc  verbum  non,  ut  plerique  existi- 
mant,  a  favore  trahitur  ;  sed  imperatur  silentium,  ut 
rite  peragi  possit  sacrum  nulla  voce  mala  obstrepente.  ^ 
XXYII.  Quod  mill  to  magis  necessarium  est  impe- 
rari  vobis,  ut  quotiens  aliquid  ex  illo  proferetur  ora- 
culo,  intent!  et  conpressa  voce  audiatis.  *  Cum  sistrum 
aliquid  concutiens  ex  imperio  mentitur,  cum  aliquis  se- 
candi  lacertos  suos  artifex  brachia  atque  humeros  sus- 
pensa  manu  cruentat,  curp,.ab2^is  .genibus  per  viam  re 
pens  ululat  laurumque  linteatus  senex  et  medio  lucep 
nam  die  praeferens  conclamat  iratum  aliquem  deorum; 
concurritis  et  auditis  et  divinum  esse  eum,  invicem  mu 
tuum  alentes  stuporem,  adfirraatis.  2.  Ecce  Socrates 
ex  illo  carcere,  quern  intrando  purgavit  omnique  ho 
nestiorem  cui^  reddidit,  proclamat :  Quis  iste  furor  ? 
qua^  ista  inimica  dis  horninibusque  natura  est  infamare 
virtutes  et  malignis  sermonibus  sancta  violare  ?  Si  po- 
testis,  bonos  laudate :  si  minus,  transite.  Quod>  si  vobis 
exercere  tetram  istam  licentiam  placet,  alter  in  alterum 
incursitate:  nam  cum  in  coelum  insanitis,  non  dico  sa- 
crilegium  facitis,  sed  operam  perditis.  Praebui  ego  ali- 
quando  Aristophani  materiam  iocorum  :  tota  ilia  comi- 
corum  poetarum  manus  in  me  venenatos  sales  suos  effu- 
dit.  3.  Inlustrata  est  virtus  mea  per  ea  ipsa,  per  quae 


164 


L,  ANNAEI  SENECAE- 


petebatiir ;  produci  enim  illi  et  temptari  expedit ;  iiec 
idli  iiiagis  intellegunt,  quanta  sit,  quam  qui  vires  eius 
lacesseiido  senserunt.  Dnritia  silicis^nullis  magis  quam 
ferientibus  nota  est.  Praebeo  me  non  aliter  quam  ru- 
pes  aliqua  in  vadoso  mari  destituta,  quam  fluctus  non* 
desinunt,  undecumque  moti  sunt  ^verberare :  nec  ide'o 
aut  loco  earn  movent  aut  per  tot  aetates  crebro  incursu 
suo  consumunt.  4.  Adsilite,  facite  inpetnm  :  ferendo 
VOS  vincam.  In  ea,  quae  firma  et  inexsuperabilia  sunt, 
quicqnid  incurrit,  inalo  suo  vim  suam  exercet.  Pro- 
inde  quaerite  mollem  cedentemque  materiam,  in  qua 
tela  vestra  figantur.  Tobis  autem  vacat  aliena  scrutari 
mala  et  seiitentias  ferre  de  quoquam  ?  Quare  liic  pbilo- 
soplius  laxius  habitat,  quare  hie  lautius  coenat  ?  Pa- 
pulas  observatis  alienas,  obsiti  plurimis  ulceribus?  5. 
Hoc  tale  est  quale  si  quis  pulcherrimorum  corporum 
naevos  aut  veiTtfcas  derideat,  quern  fera  scabies  depas- 
citur.  Obicite  Platoni,  quod  petierit  pecuniam,  Aristo- 
teli,  quod  acceperit,  Democrito,  quod  neglexerit,  Epi- 
curo,  quod  consumpserit  :  mihi  ipsi  Alcibiadem  et 
Phaedrum  obiectate.  6.  O  vos  usu  maxime  felices, 
cum  primum  vobis  imitari  vitia  nostra  contigerit  ! 
Quin  potius  mala  vestra  circumspicitis,  quae  vos  ab 
Omni  parte  confodiunt,  alia  grassantia  extrinseens,  alia 
in  visceribus  ipsis  ardentia?  I^on  eo  loco  res  huma- 
nae  sunt:  etiam  si  staturn  vestrum  parum  nostis,  et  vo¬ 
bis  tantum  otii  supersit,  ut  in  probra  meliorum  agitare 
linguam  vacet  ? 

XXYIII.  Hoc  vos  non  intellegitis  et  alienum  fortu- 
nae  vestrae  voltum  geritis;  sicut  plurimi,  quibus  in  cir- 
co  aut  theatre  desidentibus  iam  fiinesta  domus  est  nec 
adnuntiatuin  malum.  At  ego  ex  alto  prospiciens  video, 


DE  VITA  BEATA.  CAP.  XXVIII.  165 

quae  tempestates  aut  inmineant  vobis  paulo  tardius 
rupturae  nimbum  suum,  aut  iam  vicinae  vds  ac  ves- 
tra  rapturae  propius  accesserint.  Quid  porro?  nonne 
nunc  quoque,  etiam  si  parum  sentitis,  turbd  quidam 
animos  vestros  rotat  et  involvit,  fugientes  petentesque 
eadem  et  nunc  in  sublime  adlevatos  nunc  in  infima 
adlisos  ^ 


Palace  of  the  Caesars  at  Rome. 


II 


f  . 


The  Forum  from  the  Capitol, 


«! 


L.  ANNAEI  SENECAS 


AD  LUCILIUM 

EPISTULAE  SELECTAE 

ET 


EPIGRAMMATA. 


Tlie  teaching  of  Seneca,  which  drew  all  its  interest  from  Greek  phi¬ 
losophy,  was  alien  from  the  old  Roman  sentiments.  His  doctrines  were 
essentially  cosmopolite.  He  sought  to  refer  questions  of  honor  and 
justice  to  general  and  eternal  principles,  rather  than  to  solve  them  by 
the  tests  of  precedents  and  political  traditions.  The  educated  men  of 
the  later  Republic,  as  well  as  of  the  early  Empire,  had  opened  their  arms 
wide  to  enibrace  these  foreign  speculations ;  and  whether  they  had  re¬ 
signed  themselves  to  Epicurism,  as  was  the  fashion  under  Julius  arid 
Augustus,  or  had  cultivated  Stoicism,  which  was  now  more  generally  in 
vogue,  they  equally  abandoned  the  ground  of  their  unpolished  fathers, 
which  asserted  the  pre-eminence  of  patriotism  above  all  the  virtues,  the 
subordination  of  every  claim  of  right  and  duty  to  national  interest  and 
honor.  ...  As  yet.  Stoicism,  in  the  ranks  of  Roman  society,  was  mere¬ 
ly  a  speculative  creed ;  and  the  habit  now  prevalent  there,  of  speculat¬ 
ing  on  the  unity  of  mankind,  the  equality  of  races,  the  universality  of 
justice,  the  subjection  of  prince  and  people,  of  masters  and  slaves,  of 
conqueror  and  conquered,  to  one  rule  of  Right,  tended  undoubtedly  to 
sap  the  exclusive  and  selfish  spirit  of  Roman  antiquity. 


Merivale. 


EPISTULAE  SELECTAE. 


EPISTTJLA  II. 

Seneca  Lucilio  suo  salutem. 

rE  X  liis  quae  milii  scribis,  et  ex  bis  quae  audio,  bonam  spem 
de  te  concipio.  Non  discurris  nec  locorum  mutationibus  in- 
quietaris.  Aegri  animi  ista  iactatio  est.  Primum  argumen- 
tum  conpositae  mentis  existimo,  posse  consistere  et  secum 
morari.  I|lud  autem  vide^  ne  ista  lectio  auctorum  multorum 
et  omnis  generis  voluminum  babeat  aliquid  vagum  et  insta¬ 
bile.  Certis  ingeniis  inmorari  et  innutriri  oportet,  si  velis 
aliqqid  trabere,  quod  in  animo  fideliter  sedeat.  Nusquam  est 
qui  ubique  est.-l^.  Vitam  in  peregrinatione  exigentibus  boc 
evenit,  ut  multa  bospitia  babeant,  nullas  amicitias.  Idem  ac- 
cidat  necesse  est  bis,  qui  nullius  se  ingenio  familiariter  adpli- 
cant,  sed  omnia  cursim  et  properantes  transmittisint.  Non 
prodest  cibus  nec  corpori  accedit,  qui  statim  sumptus  emitti- 
tur.  Nibil  aeque  sanitatem  inpedit  quam  remediorum  crebra 
mutatio.  Non  venit  volnus  ad  cicatricem,  in  quo  medica- 
menta  temptantur :  non  convalescit  planta,  quae  saepe  trans- 
fertur  :  nibil  tain  utile  est,  ut  in  transitu  prosit :  distringit  li- 
brorum  multitudo.  3.  Itaque  cum  legere  non  possis,  quantum 
babueris,  satis  est  babere,  quantum  legas.  Sed  modo,  inquis, 
bunc  librum  evolvere  volo,  modo  ilium.  Fastidientis  stomacbi 
est  multa  degustare,  quae  ubi  varia  sunt  et  diversa,  inquinant, 
non  alunt.  Probatos  itaque  semper  lege,  et  si  quando  ad  al¬ 
ios  diverti  libuerit,  ad  priores  redi.  Aliquid  cotidie  adversiis 
paupertatem,  aliquid  advcrsus  mortem  auxilii  conpara,  nec  mi- 


170 


L.  ANNAEI  SENECAE 


nus  adversns  ceteras  pestes :  4.  et  cum  multa  percurreris,  unum 
excerpe,  quod  illo  die  concoquas.  Hoc  ipse  quoque  facio  :  ex 
pluribus,  quae  legi,  aliquid  adpreliendo.  Hodiernum  hoc  est, 
quod  apud  Epicurum  nanctus  sum  :  (soleo  enim  et  in  aliena 
castra  transire,  non  tamquam  transfuga,  sed  tamquam  explora- 
tor :)  Honesta,  inquit,  res  est  laeta  paupertas.  Ilia  vero  non 
est  paupertas,  si  laeta  est.  Non  qui  parum  hahet,  sed  qui 
plus  cupit,  pauper  est.  5.  Quid  enim  refert,  quantum  illi  in 
area,  quantum  in  horreis  iaceat,  quantum  pascat,  quantum  fe- 
neret,  si  alieno  inminet,  si  non  adquisita,  sed  adquirenda  con- 
putat  ?  Quis  sit  divitiarum  modus,  quaeris  :  primus,  habere 
quod  necesse  est,  proximus,  quod  sat  est.  Yale. 


EPISTHLA  VI. 

Seneca  Lucilio  suo  salutem. 

Intellego,  Lucili,  non  emendari  me  tantum,  sed  transfigurari. 
Nec  hoc  promitto  iam  aut  spero,  nihil  in  me  superesse,  quod 
mutandum  sit.  Quidni  multa  habeam,  quae  debeant  colligi, 
quae  extenuari,  quae  attolli  ?  Et  hoc  ipsum  argumentum  est 
in  melius  translati  animi,  quod  vitia  sua,  quae  adhuc  ignora- 
bat,  videt.  Quibusdam  aegris  gratulatio  fit,  cum  ipsi  aegros 
se  esse  senserunt.  2.  Cuperem  itaque  tecum  communicare 
tarn  subitam  mutationem  mei :  tunc  amicitiae  nostrae  certi- 
orem  fiduciam  habere  coepissem,  illius  verae,  quam  non  spes, 
non  timor,  non  utilitatis  suae  cura  divellit :  illius,  cum  qua 
homines  moriuntur,  pro  qua  moriuntur.  Multos  tibi  dabo, 
qui  non  amico,  sed  amicitia  caruerunt.  Hoc  non  potest  acci- 
dere,  cum  animos  in  societatem  honesta  cupiendi  par  voluntas 
trahit.  3.  Quidni  non  possit?  Sciunt  enim  ipsos  omnia  ha¬ 
bere  communia,  et  quidem  magis  adversa.  Concipere  animo 
non  potes,  quantum  momenti  adferre  mihi  singulos  dies  vide- 
am.  Mitte,  inquis,  et  nobis  ista,  quae  tarn  efficacia  expertus 
es.  Ego  vero  omnia  in  te  cupio  transfundere,  et  in  hoc  ali- 


EPI8TULAE  SELECTAE. 


171 


quid  gaudeo  discere,  ut  doceam  :  nec  me  ulla  res  delectabit, 
licet  sit  eximia  et  salutaris,  quam  mihi  uni  sciturus  sum.  4. 
Si  cum  hac  exception  e  detur  sapientia,  ut  illam  inclusam  tene- 
am  nec  enuntiem,  reiciam.  Nullius  boni  sine  socio  iucunda 
possessio  est.  Mittam  itaque  ipsos  tibi  libros  :  et  ne  multum 
operae  inpendas,  dum  passim  profutura  sectaris,  inponam  no- 
tas,  ut  ad  ipsa  protinus,  quae  probo  et  miror,  accedas.  Plus 
tarn  on  tibi  et  viva  vox  et  convictus  quam  oratio  proderit.  5. 
In  rein  praesentem  venias  oportet :  primum,  quia  homines 
amplius  oculis  quam  auribus  credunt :  deinde,  quia  longum 
iter  est  per  praecepta,  breve  et  efficax  per  exempla.  Zeno- 
nem  Cleanthes  non  expressisset,  si  tantummodo  audisset. 
Vitae  eius  interfuit,  secreta  perspexit,  observavit  ilium,  an  ex 
formula  sua  viveret.  Platon  et  Aristoteles  et  omnis  in  diver- 
sum  itura  sapientium  turba  plus  ex  moribus  quam  ex  verbis 
Socratis  traxit.  6.  Metrodorum  et  Hermarchum  et  Polyaenum 
magnos  viros  non  schola  Epicuri,  sed  contubernium  fecit. 
Nec  in  hoc  te  accerso  tantum,  ut  proficias,  sed  ut  prosis  :  plu- 
rimum  enim  alter  alteri  conferemus.  Interim  quoniam  di- 
urnam  tibi  mercedulam  debeo,  quid  me  hodie  apud  Hecato- 
nem  delectaverit  dicam.  Quaeris,  inquit,  quid  profecerim  ? 
amicus  esse  mihi.  Multum  proficit :  numquam  erit  solus. 
Scito  hunc  amicum  omnibus  esse.  Yale. 


EPISTULA  X. 

Seneca  Lucilio  suo  salutem. 

Sic  est,  non  muto  sententiam  :  fuge  multitudinem,  fuge 
paucitatem,  fuge  etiam  unum.  Non  habeo  cum  quo  te  com- 
municatum  velim.  Et  vide,  quod  indicium  meum  habeas: 
audeo  te  tibi  credere.  Crates,  ut  aiunt,  huius  ipsius  Stilbonis 
auditor,  cuius  mentionem  priori  epistula  feci,  cum  vidisset 
adulescentulum  secreto  ambulantem,  interrogavit,  quid  illic 
solus  faceret  ?  Mecum^  in  quit,  loquor.  Cui  Crates :  Cave,  in- 


172 


L.  ANNAEI  SENECAE 


quit,  rogo^  et  dilig enter  adtende^  ne  cum  homine  malo  loquaris. 

2.  Lugentem  timentemque  custodlre  solemus,  ne  solitudine 
male  utatur :  nemo  est  ex  inprudentibus,  qui  relinqui  sibi  de¬ 
beat.  Tunc  mala  consilia  agitant :  tunc  aut  aliis  aut  ipsis  fu- 
tura  pericula  struunt :  tunc  cupiditates  inprobas  ordinant :  tunc 
quicquid  aut  metu  aut  pudore  celabat,  animus  exponit :  tunc 
audaciam  acuit,  libidinem  inritat,  iracundiam  instigat.  De- 
nique  quod  unum  solitudo  habet  commodum,  nihil  ulli  com- 
mittere,  non  timere  indicem,  perit  stulto :  ipse  se  prodit.  3. 
Vide  itaque,  quid  de  te  sperem,  immo  quid  spondeam  mihi 
(spes  enim  incerti  boni  nomen  est)  :  non  invenio  cum  quo 
te  malim  esse  quam  tecum.  Repeto  memoria,  quam  magno 
animo  quaedam  verba  proieceris,  quanti  roboris  plena.  Gra- 
tulatus  sum  protinus  mihi  et  dixi :  non  a  summis  labris  ista 
venerunt,  habent  hae  voces  fundamentum :  iste  homo  non  est 
unus  e  populo,  ad  salutem  spectat.  4.  Sic  loquere,  sic  vive : 
vide  ne  te  ulla  res  deprimat.  Votorum  tuorum  veterum  licet 
deis  gratiam  facias,  alia  de  integro  suscipe  :  roga  bonam  men- 
tem,  bonam  valitudinem  animi,  deinde  corporis.  Quidni  tu 
ista  vota  saepe  facias  ?  Audacter  deum  roga  :  nihil  ilium  de 
alieno  rogaturus  es.  Sed  ut  more  meo  cum  aliquo  munusculo 
epistulam  mittam,  verum  est,  quod  apud  Athenodorum  inveni : 

5.  Tunc  scito  esse  te  omnibus  cupiditatihus  solutum,  cum  eo 
perveneris,  ut  nihil  deum  roges^  nisi  quod  rogare  possis  palam. 
Nunc  enim  quanta  dementia  est  hominum  !  turpissima  vota 
dis  insusurrant :  si  quis  admoverit  aurem,  conticescent :  et 
quod  scire  hominem  nolunt,  deo  narrant.  Vide  ergo,  ne  hoc  e, 
praecipi  salubriter  possit :  Sic  vive  cum  hominibus,  tamquam 
deus  videat :  sic  loquere  cum  deo,  tamquam  homines  audiant. 
Vale. 


EPISTULAE  SELECTAE. 


173 


EPISTULA  XXIII. 

Seneca  Lucilio  suo  salutem. 

Putas  me  tibi  scrip turum,  quam  humane  nobiscum  biems 
egerit,  quae  et  remissa  |uit  et  brevis,  quam  malignum  ver 
sit,  quam  praeposterum  frigus,  et  alias  ineptias  verba  quae- 
rentium.  Ego  vero  aliquid,  quod  et  mibi  et  tibi  prodesse 
possit,  scribam.  Quid  autem  id  erit,  nisi  ut  te  exborter  ad 
bonam  mentem  ?  Huius  fundamentum  quod  sit  quaeris  ?  Ne 
gaudeas  vanis.  Fundamentum  boe  esse  dixi :  culmen  est. 
Ad  summa  pervenit,  qui  scit,  quo  gaudeat,  qui  felicitatem 
suam  in  aliena  potestate  non  posuit.  2.  Sollicitus  est  et  in- 
certus  sui,  quern  spes  aliqua  proritat,  licet  ad  manum  sit,  licet 
non  ex  difficili  petatur,  licet  numquam  ilium  sperata  decepe- 
rint.  Hoc  ante  omnia  fac,  mi  Lucili :  disce  gaudere.  Existi- 
mas  nunc  me  detrabere  tibi  multas  voluptates,  qui  fortuita  sub- 
moveo,  qui  spes,  dulcissima  oblectamenta  devitanda  existimo  ? 
immo  contra  nolo  tibi  umquam  deesse  laetitiam.  Yolo  illam 
tibi  domi  nasci :  nascitur,  si  domus  intra  te  ipsum  sit.  3.  Ce- 
terae  bilaritates  non  inplent  pectus  :  frontem  remittunt,  leves 
sunt:  nisi  forte  tu  iudicas  eum  gaudere  qui  ridet.  Animus 
esse  debet  alacer  et  fidens  et  super  omnia  erectus.  Mibi 
crede,  yerum  gaudium  res  severa  est.  An  tu  existimas  quem- 
quam  soluto  voltu  et,  ut  isti  delicati  loquuntur,  bilariculo  mor¬ 
tem  contemnere  ?  paupertati  domum  aperire  ?  voluptates  te- 
nere  sub  freno  ?  meditari  dolorum  patientiam  ?  Haec  qui 
apud  se  versat,  in  magno  gaudio  est,  sed  parum  blando.  4.  In 
buius  gaudii  possessione  esse  te  volo  :  numquam  deficiet,  cum 
semel  unde  petatur  inveneris.  Levium  metallorum  fructus  in 
summo  est.:  ilia  opulentissima  sunt,  quorum  in  alto  latet  vena 
adsidue  plenius  responsura  fodienti.  Haec,  quibus  delectatur 
volgus,  tenuem  babent  ac  perfusoriam  voluptatem,  et  quodcum- 
que  inventicium  gaudium  est,  fundamento  caret :  boc,  de  quo 

H  2 


174 


L.  ANNAEI  SENECAE 


loquor,  ad  quod  te  conor  perdiicere,  solidum  est,  et  quod  plus 
pateat  introrsus.  5.  Fac,  oro  te,  Lucili  carissime,  quod  unum 
potest  te  praestare  felicem  :  disice  et  conculca  ista,  quae  ex- 
trinsecus  splendent,  quae  tibi  promittuntur  ab  alio  :  ad  verum 
bonum  specta  et  de  tuo  gaude.  Quid  est  autem  hoc  de  tuo  ^ 
Te  ipso  et  tui  optima  parte.  Corpusculum  quoque,  etiam  si 
nihil  fieri  sine  illo  potest,  magis  necessariam  rem  crede  quam 
magnam  :  vanas  subgerit  voluptates,  breves,  poenitendas,  ac 
nisi  magna  moderation  e  temperentur,  in  contrarium  abituras. 
6.  Ita  dico  :  in  praecipiti  voluptas  ad  dolorem  vergit,  nisi  mo- 
dum  tenuit :  modum  autem  tenere  in  eo  difficile  est,  quod  bo¬ 
num  esse  credideris.  Veri  boni  aviditas  tuta  est.  Quid  sit 
istud,  interrogas,  aut  unde  subeat  ?  Dicam  :  ex  bona  consci- 
entia,  ex  honestis  consiliis,  ex  rectis  actionibus,  ex  contemptu 
fortuitorum,  ex  placido  vitae  et  continue  tenore  unam  pre- 
mentis  viam.  Nam  illi,  qui  ex  aliis  propositis  in  alia  transsi- 
liunt  aut  ne  transsiliunt  quidem,  sed  casu  quodam  trans- 
mittuntur,  quomodo  habere  quicquam  certum  mansurumve 
possunt  suspensi  et  vagi?  7.  Pauci  sunt,  qui  consilio  se  sua- 
que  disponant :  ceteri  eorum  more,  quae  fluminibus  innatant, 
non  eunt,  sed  feruntur.  Ex  quibus  alia  lenior  unda  detinuit 
ac  mollius  vexit,  alia  vehementior  rapuit,  alia  proxima  ripae 
cursu  languescente  deposuit,  alia  torrens  inpetus  in  mare  eie- 
cit.  Ideo  constituendum  est,  quid  velimus,  et  in  eo  perseve- 
randum.  Hie  est  locus  solvendi  aeris  alieni.  Possum  enim 
vocem  tibi  Epicuri  tui  reddere  et  hanc  epistulam  liberare :  8. 
Molestum  est  semper  vitam  inchoare :  aut  si  hoc  modo  magis 
sensus  potest  exprimi :  Male  vivunt,  qui  semper  vivere  incipi- 
unt.  Quare  ?  inquis.  Desiderat  enim  explanationem  ista  vox. 
Quia  semper  illis  inperfecta  vita  est.  Non  potest  autem  stare 
paratus  ad  mortem,  qui  modo  incipit  vivere.  Id  agendum  est, 
ut  satis  vixerimus  :  nemo  hoc  putat,  qui  orditur  cum  maxime 
vitam.  Non  est  quod  existimes  paucos  esse  hos  :  propemo- 
dum  omnes  sunt.  Quidam  vero  tunc  incipiunt,  cum  desinen- 
dum  est.  Si  hoc  iudicas  mirum,  adiciam  quod  magis  admire- 
ris  :  quidam  ante  vivere  desierunt  quam  inciperent.  Yale, 


EPISTULAE  SELEOTAE. 


175 


EPISTULA  XLI. 

Seneca  Lucilio  suo  salutem. 

Facis  rem  optimam  et  tibi  salutarem,  si,  ut  scribis,  perseveras 
ire  ad  bonam  mentem,  quam  stultum  est  op  tare,  cum  possis  a  te 
inpetrare.  Non  sunt  ad  coelum  elevandae  manus  nee  exorandus 
aedituus,  ut  nos  ad  aurem  simulacri,  quasi  magis  exaudiri  possi- 
mus,  admittat :  prope  est  a  te  deus,  tecum  est,  intus  est.  Ita 
dico,  Lucili :  sacer  intra  nos  spiritus  sedet,  malorum  bonorumque 
nostrorum  observator,  et  custos  :  hie  prout  a  nobis  tractatus 
est,  ita  nos  ipse  tractat.  2.  Bonus  vero  vir  sine  deo  nemo  est. 
An  potest  aliquis  supra  fortunam  nisi  ab  illo  adiutus  exsur- 
gere  ?  Ille  dat  consilia  magnifica  et  erecta.  In  unoquoque 
virorum  bonorum 

quis  deus  incertum  est,  habitat  deus. 

Si  tibi  occurrerit  vetustis  arboribus  et  solitam  altitudinem 
egressis  frequens  lucus  et  conspectum  coeli  densitate  ramorum 
aliorum  alios  protegentium  submovens  :  ilia  proceritas  silvae 
et  secretum  loci  et  admiratio  umbrae  in  aperto  tarn  densae  at- 
que  continuae  fidem  tibi  numinis  facit.  3.  Et  si  quis  specus 
saxis  penitus  exesis  montem  suspenderit,  non  manu  factus,  sed 
naturalibus  causis  in  tantam  laxitatem  excavatus,  animum 
tuum  quadam  religionis  suspicione  perciitiet.  Magnorum 
fluminum  capita  veneramur :  subita  ex  abdito  vasti  amnis 
eruptio  aras  habet :  coluntur  aquarum  calentium  fontes,  et 
stagna  quaedam  vel  opacitas  vel  inmensa  altitude  sacravit.  4. 
Si  hominem  videris  interritum  periculis,  intactum  cupiditati- 
bus,  inter  adversa  felicem,  in  mediis  tempestatibus  placidum, 
ex  superiore  loco  homines  videntem,  ex  aequo  deos :  non 
subibit  te  eius  veneratio  ?  non  dices :  Ista  res  maior  est 
altiorque  quam  ut  credi  similis  huic,  in  quo  est,  corpusculo 
possit?  Vis  istuc  divina  descendit.  Animum  excellentem. 


17G 


L.  ANl^AEI  SENECAE 


moderatiim,  omnia  tamquam  minora  transeuntem  quicquid 
timemus  optamusque  ridentem,  coelestis  potentia  agitat.  5. 
Non  potest  res  tanta  sine  adminiculo  numinis  stare :  itaque 
maiore  sui  parte  illic  est,  unde  descendit.  Quemadmodum 
radii  solis  contingunt  quidem  terram,  sed  ibi  sunt,  unde  mit- 
tuntur :  sic  animus  magnus  ac  sacer  et  in  hoc  demissus,  ut  pro- 
pius  divina  nossemus,  conversatur  quidem  nobiscum,  sed  hae- 
ret  origini  suae :  illinc  pendet,  illuc  spectat  ac  nititur,  nostris 
tamquam  melior  interest.  6.  Quis  est  ergo  hie  animus  ?  qui 
nullo  bono  nisi  suo  nitet.  Quid  enim  est  stultius  quam  in  ho- 
mine  aliena  laudare  ?  quid  eo  dementius,  qui  ea  miratur,  quae 
ad  alium  transferri  protinus  possunt  ?  Non  faciunt  meliorem 
equum  aurei  freni.  Aliter  leo  aurata  iuba  mittitur,  dum  con- 
tractatur  et  ad  patientiam  recipiendi  ornamenti  cogitur  fatiga- 
tus,  aliter  incultus,  integri  spiritus.  Hie  scilicet  inpetu  acer, 
qualem  ilium  natura  esse  voluit,  speciosus  ex  horrido,  cuius  hie 
decor  est,  non  sine  timore  adspici,  praefertur  illi  languido  et 
bracteato.  Nemo  gloriari  nisi  suo  debet.  7.  Vitem  laudamus, 
si  fructu  palmites  onerat,  si  ipsa  pondera  ad  terram  eorumque 
tnlit,  adminicula  deducit.  Num  quis  huic  illam  praeferret  vi¬ 
tem,  cui  aureae  uvae,  aurea  folia  dependent  ?  Propria  virtus 
est  in  vite  fertilitas  :  in  homine  quoque  id  laudandum  est, 
quod  ipsius  est.  Familiam  formosam  hab.et  et  domum  pul- 
chram,  rnultum  serit,  multum  fenerat :  nihil  horum  in  ipso 
est,  sed  circa  ipsum.  8.  Lauda  in  ipso,  quod  nec  eripi  potest 
nec  dari,  quod  propium  hominis  est.  Quaeris  quid  sit  ?  Ani¬ 
mus  et  ratio  in  animo  perfecta.  Rationale  enim  animal  est 
homo  :  consummatur  itaque  eius  bonum,  si  id  inplevit,  cui 
nascitur.  Quid  est  autem,  quod  ab  illo  ratio  haec  exigat  ? 
Rem  facillimam  ;  secundum  naturam  suam  vivere.  Sed  hanc 
difficilem  facit  communis  insania :  in  vitia  alter  alterum  tru- 
dimus  :  quomodo  autem  revocari  ad  salutem  possunt,  quos 
nemo  retinet,  populus  inpellit  ?  Yale. 


EPISTULAE  SELEOTAE. 


177 


EPISTULA  LXXXVI. 

Seneca  Lucilio  suo  salutem. 

In  ipsa  Scipionis  African!  villa  iacens  haec  tibi  scribo  ado- 
ratis  manibus  eius  et  area,  quam  sepulcbrum  esse  tanti  viri 
snspicor.  Animum  quidem  eius  in  coelum,  ex  quo  erat,  re- 
disse  persuadeo  mihi,  non  quia  magnos  exercitus  duxit  (bos 
enim  et  Cambyses  furiosus  ac  furore  feliciter  usus  babuit),  sed 
ob  egregiam  moderationem  pietatemque,  quam  magis  in  illo 
admiror,  cum  reliquit  patriam,  quam  cum  defendit.  Aut 
Scipio  Pomae  deesse  debebat  aut  Roma  in  libertate.  2.  .Ni¬ 
hil,  inquit,  volo  derogare  legihus,  nihil  institutis :  aequum 
inter  omnes  cives  ius  sit :  utere  sine  me  heneficio  meo,  patria  : 
causa  tibi  libertatis  fui,  ero  et  argumentum.  Exeo,  si  plus 
tibi  quam  expedit,  crevi.  Quidni  ego  admirer  banc  magnitu- 
dinem  animi,  qua  in  exilium  voluntarium  secessit  et  civitatem 
exoneravit  ?  Eo  perducta  res  erat,  ut  aut  libertas  Scipioni  aut 
Scipio  libertati  faceret  iniuriam.  Neutrum  fas  erat :  itaque 
locum  dedit  legibus  et  se  Litem um  recepit  tarn  suum  exilium 
reipublicae  inputaturus  quam  Hannibalis.  3.  Vidi  villam  struc- 
tam  lapide  quadrato,  murum  circumdatum  silvae,  turres  quo- 
que  in  propugnaculum  villae  utrimque  subrectas,  cisternam 
aedificiis  ac  viridibus  subditam,  quae  sulRcere  in  usum  vel 
exercitus  posset,  balneolum  angustum,  tenebricosum  ex  con- 
suetudine  antiqua  (non  videbatur  maioribus  nostris  caldum 
nisi  obscurum).  4.  Magna  ergo  me  voluptas  subiit  contemplan- 
tem  mores  Scipionis  ac  nostros.  In  boc  angulo  ille  Cartba- 
ginis  borror,  cui  Roma  debet,  quod  tantum  semel  capta  est, 
abluebat  corpus  laboribus  rusticis  fessum  :  exercebat  enim 
opere  se  terramque,  ut  mos  fuit  priscis,  ipse  subigebat.  Sub 
boc  ille  tecto  tarn  sordido  stetit :  boc  ilium  pavimentum  tarn 
vile  sustinuit.  5.  At  nunc  quis  est,  qui  sic  lavari  sustineat  ? 
pauper  sibi  videtur  ac  sordidus,  nisi  parietes  magnis  et  preti- 


178 


L.  a2^NAEI  SliNEOAE 


osis  orbibus  refulserunt,  nisi  Alexandrina  marmora  Numidicis 
crustis  distincta  sunt,  nisi  illis  undique  operosa  et  in  picturae 
modum  variata  circumlitio  praetexitur,  nisi  vitro  absconditiir 
camera,  nisi  Tbasius  lapis,  quondam  rarum  in  aliquo  spectacu- 
lum  templo,  piscinas  nostras  circumdedit,  in  quas  multa  suda- 
tione  corpora  exsaniata  demittimus,  nisi  aquam  argentea  epi- 
tonia  fuderunt.  6.  Et  adbuc  plebeias  fistulas  loquor :  quid, 
cum  ad  balnea  libertinorum  pervenero  ?  quantum  statuarum, 
quantum  columnarum  est  nibil  sustinentium,  sed  in  ornamen- 
tum  positarum  inpensae  causa  I  quantum  aquarum  per  gradus 
cum  fragore  labentium  !  Eo  deliciarum  pervenimus,  ut  nisi 
gemmas  calcare  nolimus.  In  boc  balneo  Scipionis  minimae 
sunt  rimae  magis  quam  fenestrae  muro  lapideo  exsectae,  ut 
sine  iniuria  munimenti  lumen  admitterent.  7.  At  nunc  blat- 
taria  vocant  balnea,  si  qua  non  ita  aptata  sunt,  ut  totius  diei 
solom  fenestris  amplissimis  recipiant,  nisi  et  lavantur  simul  et 
colorantur,  nisi  ex  solio  agros  et  maria  prospiciunt.  Itaque 
quae  concursum  et  admirationem  babuerant,  cum  dedicarentur, 
in  antiquorum  numerum  reiciuntur,  cum  aliquid  novi  luxuria 
commcnta  est,  quo  ipsa  se  obrueret.  8.  At  olim  et  pauca 
erant  balnea  nec  ullo  cultu  exornata :  cur  enim  ornaretur  res 
quadrantaria  et  in  usum,  non  oblectamentum  reperta  ?  Non 
subfundebatur  aqua  nec  recens  semper  velut  ex  calido  fonte 
currebat nec  referre  credebant,  in  quam  perlucida  sordes  de- 
ponerent.  Sed,  di  boni,  quam  iuvat  ilia  balnea  intrare  obscura 
et  gregali  tectorio  inducta,  quae  scires  Catonem  tibi  aedilem 
aut  Fabium  Maximum  aut  ex  Corneliis  aliquem  manu  sua  tem- 
perasse  ?  9.  Nam  boc  quoque  nobilissimi  aediles  fungebantur 

otficio  intrandi  ea  loca,  quae  populum  receptabant,  exigendi- 
que  munditias  et  utiletn  ac  salubrem  temperaturam,  non  banc, 
quae  nuper  inventa  est  similis  incendio,  adeo  quidem,  ut  con- 
victum  in  aliquo  scelere  servum  vivum  lavari  oporteat.  Nibil 
mibi  videtur  iam  interesse,  ardeat  balneum  an  caleat.  Quan- 
tae  nunc  aliquis  rusticitatis  damnat  Scipionem,  quod  non  in 
caldarium  suum  latis  specularibus  diem  admiserat?  quod  non 
in  multa  luce  decoquebatur  et  exspectabat,  ut  in  balneo  con- 
coquoret.  10.  0  bominem  calamitosum  1  nesciit  vivere.  Non 


EPISTULAE  SELECTAE. 


179 


saccata  aqua  lavabatur,  sed  saepe  turbida  et,  cum  plueret  vebe- 
mentius,  paene  lutulenta :  nec  multum  eius  intererat,  an  sic  la- 
varetur :  veniebat  enim  ut  sudorem  illic  ablueret,  non  nt  un- 
gnentura.  Quas  nunc  quorumdam  fnturas  voces  credis  ?  Non 
invideo  Scipioni :  vere  in  exilio  vixit,  qui  sic  lavabatur.  Immo, 
si  scias,  non  cotidie  lavabatur.  11.  Nam,  ut  aiunt,  qui  priscos 
mores  Urbis  tradiderunt,  bracbia  et  crura  cotidie  abluebant, 
quae  scilicet  sordes  opere  collegerant :  ceterum  toti  nundinis 
lavabantur.  Hoc  loco  dicet  aliquis  :  Liquet  mihi  inmundissi- 
mos  fuisse.  Quid  putas  illos  oluiSse  ?  Militiam,  laborem,  vi- 
rum.  Postquam  munda  balnea  inventa  sunt,  spurciores  sunt. 
12.  Descripturus  infamem  et  nimiis  notabilem  deliciis  Horatius 
Flaccus  quid  ait  ? 

Pastillos  Rujillus  oleL 

Dares  nunc  Rufillum  :  perinde  esset,  ac  si  bircum  oleret.  Gor- 
gonii  loco  esset,  quern  idem  Horatius  Rufillo  obposuit.  Parum 
est  sumere  unguentum,  nisi  bis  die  terque  renovatur,  ne  evane- 
scat  in  corpore.  Quid,  quod  hoc  odore  tamquam  suo  glorian- 
tur  ?  13.  Haec  si  tibi  nimium  tristia  videbuntur,  villae  inputa- 

bis,  in  qua  didici  ab  Aegialo,  diligentissimo  patrefamiliae  (is 
enim  huius  agri  nunc  possessor  est),  quamvis  vetus  arbustum 
posse  transferri.  Hoc  nobis  senibus  discere  necessarium  est, 
quorum  nemo  non  olivetum  alteri  ponit :  quod  vidi  ilium  arbo- 
nim  trimum  et  quadrimum  fastidiendi  fructus  autumno  depo- 
nere.  14.  Te  quoque  proteget  ilia,  quae 

Tarda  venit,  seris  factura  nepotihus  umhram^ 

ut  ait  Yergilius  noster,  qui  non  quid  verissime,  sed  quid  de- 
centissime  diceretur  adspexit  nec  agricolas  docere  voluit,  sed 
legentes  delectare.  15.  Nam,  ut  alia  omnia  transeam,  hoc  quod 
mihi  hodie  necesse  fuit  deprehendere,  adscribam  : 

Vere  fahis  satio  est :  tunc  te  quoque,  medica,putres 
Accipiunt  sulci  et  milio  venit  annua,  cura. 

An  uno  tempore  ista  ponenda  sint  et  an  utriusque  verna  sit 
satio,  bine  aestimes  licet.  lunius  mensis  est,  quo  tibi  scribo, 


180 


L.  ANNAEI  SENECA  E 


iam  proclivus  in  lulium  :  16.  eodem  die  vidi  fabam  metentes, 
milium  serentes.  Ad  olivefum  revertar,  quod  vidi  duobus 
modis  dispositum.  Magnarum  arborum  truncos  circumcisis 
ramis  et  ad  unum  redactis  pedem  cum  rapo  suo  transtulit  am- 
putatis  radicibus,  relicto  tantum  capite  ipso,  ex  quo  illae  pe- 
penderant.  Hoc  fimo  tinctum  in  scrobem  demisit ;  deinde 
terrain  non  adgessit  tantum,  sed  calcavit  et  pressit.  17.  Negat 
quicquam  esse  liac,  ui  ait,  spissatione  efficacius :  videlicet  frigus 
excludit  et  ventum :  minus  praeterea  movetur  et  6b  hoc  na- 
scentes  radices  prodire  patitur  ac  solum  adprehendere,  quas 
necesse  est  cereas  adliuc  et  precario  liaerentes,  levis  quoque  re- 
vellat  agitatio  :  parum  autem  arboris,  antequam  obruat,  radix. 
Ex  Omni  enim  materia,  quae  nudata  est,  ut  ait,  radices  exeunt 
novae.  18.  Non  plures  autem  super  terram  eminere  debet 
truncus  quam  tres  aut  quatuor  pedes  :  statim  enim  ab  imo 
vestietur  nec  magna  pars  quemadmodum  in  olivetis  vete- 
ribus  arida  et  retorrida  erit.  Alter  ponendi  modus  hie 
fuit :  ramos  fortes  nec  corticis  duri,  quales  esse  novellarum 
arborum  solent,  eodem  genere  deposuit.  Hi  paulo  tardius 
surgunt ;  sed  cum  tamquam  a  planta  processerint,  nihil  ha^ 
bent  in  se  horridum  aut  triste.  19.  Illud  etiamnunc  vidi,  vh 
tem  ex  arbusto  suo  annosam  transferri :  huius  capillamenta 
quoque,  si  fieri  potest,  colligenda  sunt :  deinde  liberalius  ster^ 
nenda  vitis,  ut  etiam  ex  corpore  radicescat.  Et  vidi  non  tan¬ 
tum  mense  Februario  positas  ;  sed  etiam  Martio  exacto  tenent 
et  conplexae  sunt  non  suas  ulmos.  Omnes  autem  istas  arbo- 
res,  quae,  ut  ita  dicam,  grandiscapiae  sunt,  ait  aqua  adiuvandas 
cisternina ;  quae  si  prodest,  habemus  pluviam  in  nostra  potes- 
tate.  Plura  te  docere  non  cogito  ne,  quemadmodum  Aegialus 
me  sibi  adversarium  paravit,  sic  ego  parem  te  mihi.  Yale. 


EPISTULAE  SELECTAE. 


181 


EPISTULA  evil. 

Seneca  Lucilio  suo  salutem. 

Ubi  ilia  pmdentia  tua  ?  ubi  in  dispiciendis  rebus  subtilitas  ? 
ubi  magnitude^ ?  Tam  pusilla  te  res  angit  ?  Servi  occupa- 
tiones  tuas  occasionem  f ugae  putaverimt.  Si  amici  decipe- 
rent  ?  (babeant  enim  sane  nomen,  quod  illis  noster  Epicurus 
inposuit,  et  vocentur,  quo  turpius  desint  omnibus  rebus  tuis) 
desunt  illi,  qui  et  operam  tuam  conterebant  et  te  aliis  mole- 
stum  esse  credebant.  2.  Nihil  horum  insolitum,  nihil  inex- 
spectatum  est.  Offendi  rebus  istis  tarn  ridiculum  est  quam 
queri,  quod  spargaris  in  publico  aut  inquineris  in  Into.  Ea- 
dem  vitae  condicio  est,  quae  balnei,  turbae,  itineris  :  quaedam 
in  te  mittentur,  quaedam  incident.  Non  est  delicata  res  vivere. 
Longam  viam  ingressus  es :  et  labaris  oportet  et  arietes  et  ca- 
das  et  lasseris  et  exclames  :  0  mors  !  id  est  mentiaris.  Alio 
loco  comitem  relinques,  alio  efferes,  alio  timebis.  Per  eius- 
modi  offensas  emetiendum  est  confragosum  hoc  iter.  Mori 
vult  ?  3.  Praeparetur  animus  contra  omnia :  sciat  se  venisse, 

ubi  tonat  fulmen  :  sciat  se  venisse  ubi 

Liictus  et  ultrices  posuere  cuhilia  curae 
Pallentesque  habitant  morhi  tristisque  senectus. 

In  hoc  contubernio  vita  degenda  est.  Effugere  ista  non  po- 
tes :  contemnere  potes :  contemnes  autem,  si  saepe  cogitaveris 
et  futura  praesumpseris.  4.  Nemo  non  fortius  ad  id,  cui  se  diu 
conposuerat,  accessit  et  duris  quoque,  si  praemeditata  erant, 
obstitit.  At  contra  inparatus  etiam  levissima  expavit.  Id 
agendum  est,  ne  quid  nobis  inopinatum  sit :  et  quia  omnia 
novitate  graviora  sunt,  hoc  cogitatio  adsidua  praestabit,  ut 
nulli  sis  malo  tiro.  5.  Servi  me  reliquerunt.  Alium  conpila- 
verunt,  alium  accusaverunt,  alium  occiderunt,  alium  prodide- 
runt,  alium  calcaverunt,  alium  veneno,  alium  criminatione  pe- 


182 


L.  ANNAEI  SENECAE 


tierunt.  Quicqiiid  dixeris,  multis  accidit.  Deinceps,  quae 
multa  et  varia  sunt  in  nos  diriguntur.  Quaedam  in  nos  fixa 
sunt,  quaedam  vibrant  et  cum  maxime  veniunt,  quaedam  in 
alios  perventura  nos  stringunt.  6.  Nihil  miremur  eorum,  ad 
quae  nati  sumus,  quae  ideo  nulli  querenda,  quia  paria  sunt 
omnibus.  Ita  dico,  paria  sunt :  nam  etiam  quod  effugit  ali- 
quis,  pati  potuit :  aequum  autem  ius  est  non  quo  omnes  usi 
sunt,  sed  quod  omnibus  latum  est.  Imperetur  aequitas  animo 
et  sine  querela  mortalitatis  tributa  pendamus.  •Hiems  frigora 
adducit :  algendum  est :  aestas  calores  refert :  aestuandum 
est.  7.  Intemperies  coeli  valitudinem  temptat :  aegrotandum 
est.  Et  fera  nobis  aliquo  loco  occurret  et  homo  perniciosior 
feris  omnibus.  Aliud  aqua,  aliud  ignis  eripiet.  llanc  rerum 
condicionem  mutare  non  possumus  :  id  possumus,  magnum 
sumere  animum  et  viro  bono  dignum,  quo  fortiter  fortuita 
patiamur  et  naturae  consentiamus.  8.  Natura  autem  hoc,  quod 
vides,  regnum  mutationibus  temperat.  Nubilo  serena  succe- 
dunt :  turbantur  maria,  cum  quieverunt :  flant  invicem  venti : 
noctem  dies  sequitur :  pars  coeli  consurgit,  pars  mergitur :  con- 
trariis  rerum  aeternitas  constat.  Ad  hanc  legem  animus  no- 
ster  aptandus  est :  hanc  sequatur,  huic  pareat :  et  quaecumque 
hunt,  debuisse  fieri  putet  nec  velit  obiurgare  naturam.  9.  Op¬ 
timum  est  pati,  quod  emendare  non  possis,  et  deum,  quo  auc- 
tore  cuncta  proveniunt,  sine  rnurmuratione  comitari.  Malus 
miles  est,  qui  imperatorem  gemens  sequitur.  Quare  inpigri 
atque  alacres  excipiamus  imperia  nec  deseramus  hunc  operis 
pulcherrimi  cursum,  cui  quicquid  patimur,  intextura  est.  10. 
Et  sic  adloquaraur  lovem,  cuius  gubernaculo  moles  ista  dirigi- 
tur,  quemadmodum  Cleanthes  noster  versibus  disertissimis 
adloquitur,  quos  mihi  in  nostrum  sermonem  mutare  permitti- 
tur  Ciceronis,  disertissimi  viri,  exemplo.  Si  placuerint,  boni 
consules:  si  displicuerint,  scies  me  in  hoc  secutum  Ciceronis 
exemplum. 

11.  0  parens  celsique  dominator  poli, 

Quocnmque  placuit:  nulla  parendi  mora  est. 

Adsum  inpiger.  Fac  nolle,  comitahor  gemens 

Malusque  patiar,  quod  pati  licuit  bono. 

Ducunt  volentein  fata ,  nolentem  trahunt. 


EPISTULAE  SELEOTAE. 


183 


Sic  vivamus,  sic  loquamur :  paratos  nos  inveniat  atqiie  inpi- 
gros  fatum.  Hie  est  magniis  animus,  qui  se  deo  tradidit :  at 
contra  ille  pusillus  et  degener,  qui  obluctatur  et  de  ordine 
mundi  male  existimat  et  emendare  mavult  deos  quam  se. 
Vale. 


-  EPISTHLA  CXVIII. 

Seneca  Lucilio  suo  salutem. 

Exigis  a  me  frequentiores  epistulas.  Eationes  conferamus : 
solvendo  non  eris.  Convenerat  quidem,  ut  tua  priora  essent : 
tu  scriberes,  ego  rescriberem.  Sed  non  ero  difficilis  :  bene 
credi  tibi  scio:  itaque  in  antecessum  dabo.  Nec  faciam,  quod 
Cicero,  vir  disertissimus,  facere  Atticum  iubet,  ut^  etiam  si  rem 
nullam  hahehit,  quod  in  buccam  venerit,  scrihat.  2.  Numquam 
potest  -deesse,  quod  scribam,  ut  omnia  ilia,  quae  Ciceronis  in- 
plent  epistulas,  tran seam :  quis  cqndidatus  lahoret:  quis  alienis, 
quis  suis  viribus  pugnet :  quis  consulatum  fiducia  Caesaris, 
quis  Pompeii^  quis  arcae  petal :  quam  durus  sit  fenerator  Cae- 
cilius,  a  quo  minoris  centesimis  propinqui  nummum  movere 
non  possint.  Sua  satius  est  mala  quam  aliena  tractare,  se  ex- 
cutere  et  videre,  quam  multarum  rerum  candidatus  sit,  et  non 
suffragari.  3.  Hoc  est,  mi  Lucili,  egregium,  hoc  securum  ac 
liberum,  nihil  petere  et  tota  fortunae  comitia  transire.  Quam 
putas  esse  iucundum  tribubus  vocatis,  cum  candidati  in  tem- 
plis  suis  pendeant  et  alius  nummos  pronuntiet,  alius  per  se- 
questrem  agat,  alius  eorum  manus  osculis  conterat,  quibus 
designatus  contingendam  manum  negaturus  est,  omnes  ad- 
toniti  vocem  praeconis  exspectant,  stare  otiosum  et  spectare 
illas  nundinas  nec  ementem  quicquam  nec  vendentem?  4. 
Quanto  hie  maiore  gaudio  fruitur,  qui  non  praetoria  aut  con- 
sularia  comitia  securus  intuetur,  sed  magna  ilia,  in  quibus  alii 
honores  anniversaries  petunt,  alii  perpetuas  potestates,  alii  bel- 
lorum  eventus  prosperos  triumphosque,  alii  divitias,  alii  matri- 
monia  ac  liberos,  alii  salutem  suam  suorumque !  Quanti  animi 


184 


L.  ANNAEI  SENECAE 


res  est  solum  nihil  petere,  niilli  supplicare  et  dicere :  Nihil 
mihi  tecum^  fortuna.  Non  facio  mei  tibi  copiam :  scio  apud 
te  Catones  repelli,  Vatinios  fieri :  nihil  rogo.  Hoc  est  priva- 
tam  facere  .fortiinam.  5.  Licet  ergo  haec  invicem  scribere  et 
banc  integram  semper  egerere  materiam  circumspicientibiis 
tot  milia  bominiim  inquieta,  qui  ut  aliquid  pestiferi  consequan- 
tur,  per  mala  nituntur  in  malum  petuntque  mox  fugienda  aut 
etiam  fastidienda.  Cui  enim  adsecuto  satis  fuit,  quod  optanti 
nimium  videbatur  ?  6.  Non  est,  ut  existimant  homines,  avida 

felicitas,  sed  pusilla:  itaque  neminem  satiat.  Tu  ista  credis 
excelsa,  quia  longe  ab  illis  iaces :  ei  vero,  qui  ad  ilia  pervenit, 
humilia  sunt.  Mentior,  nisi  adbuc  quaerit  escendere :  istuc, 
quod  tu  summum  putas,  gradus  est.  Omnes  autem  male  babet 
ignorantia  veri.  7.  Tamquam  ad  bona  feruntur  decepti  ru- 
moribus:,  deinde  mala  esse  aut  inania  aut  minora  quam  spera- 
verint,  adepti  ac  multa  passi  vident :  maiorque  pars  miratur 
ex  intervallo  fallentia  et  volgo  magna  pro  bonis  sunt.  Hoc 
ne  nobis  quoque  eveniat,  quaeramus,  quid  sit  bonum.  Yaria 
eius  interpretatio  fuit :  alius  illud  aliter  expressit.  8.  Quidam 
ita  finiunt :  Bonum  est  quod  invitat  animos,  quod  ad  se  vocat, 
Huic  statim  obponitur :  Quid  ?  si  invitat  quidem,  sed  in  per- 
niciem?  scis  quam  multa  mala  blanda  sint.  Yerum  et  veri- 
simile  inter  se  differunt.  Ita  quod  bonum  est,  vero  iungitur : 
non  est. enim  bonum  nisi  verum  est:  at  quod  invitat  ad  se  et 
adlicefacit,  verisimile  est :  subripit,  sollicitat,  adtrabit.  9.  Qui¬ 
dam  ita  finierunt :  Bonum  est,  quod  adpetitionem  sui  movet : 
vel,  quod  inpetum  animi  tendentis  ad  se  movet.  Et  huic  idem 
obponitur :  multa  enim  inpetum  animi  movent,  quae  petantur 
petentium  malo.  Melius  illi,  qui  ita  finierunt :  Bonum  est, 
quod  ad  se  inpetum  ■  animi  secundum  naturam  movet  et  ita 
demum  petendum  est.  Cum  coepit  esse  expetendum,  iam  et 
honestum  est:  hoc  enim  est  perfecte  petendum.  10.  Locus 
ipse  me  admonet,  ut,  quid  intersit  inter  bonum  honestumque, 
dicam.  Aliquid  inter  se  mixtum  habent  et  inseparabile :  nec 
potest  bonum  esse,  nisi  cui  aliquid  bonesti  inest,  et  honestum 
utique  bonum  est.  Quid  ergo  inter  duo  interest  ?  Honestum 
est  perfectum  bonum,  quo  beata  vita  conpletur,  cuius  contactu 


EPISTULAE  SELECTAE. 


185 


alia  quoque  bona  fiunt.  Quod  dico,  tale  est :  sunt  quaedam 
neque  bona  neque  mala,  tamquam  militia,  legatio,  iurisdictio. 
11.  Haec  cum  boneste  adminislrata  sunt,  bona  esse  incipiunt 
et  ex  dubio  in  bonum  transeunt.  Bonum  societate  honesti  fit, 
honestum  per  se  bonum  est.  Bonum  ex  bonesto  fluit,  bonestum 
ex  se  est.  Quod  bonum  est  malum  esse  potuit :  quod  bonestum 
est,  nisi  bonum  esse  non  potuit.  Hanc  quidam  finitionem  red- 
diderunt :  Bonum  est  quod  secundum  naturam  est.  Adtende, 
quid  dicam :  quod  bonum  est  secundum  naturam  est :  non  pro- 
tinus  quod  secundum  naturam  est  etiam  bonum  est.  12.  Mul- 
ta  naturae  quidem  consentiunt,  sed  tarn  pusilla  sunt,  ut  non 
conveniat  illis  boni  nomen.  Levia  enim  sunt,  contemnenda: 
nullum  est  minimum  contemnendum  bonum.  Nam  quamdiu 
exiguum  est,  bonum  non  est :  cum  bonum  esse  coepit,  non  est 
exiguum.  IJnde  adgnoscitur  bonum  ?  si  perfecte  secundum 
naturam  est.  13.  Fateris,  inquis,  quod  bonum  est  secundum  na¬ 
turam  esse :  baec  eius  proprietas  est :  fateris  et  alia  secundum 
naturam  quidem  esse,  sed  bona  non  esse.  Quomodo  ergo  illud 
bonum  est,  cum  baec  non  sint  ?  quomodo  ad  aliam  proprieta- 
tem  pervenit,  cum  utrique  praecipuum  illud  commune  sit, 
secundum  naturam  esse?  Ipsa  scilicet  magnitudine.  14.  Nec 
boc  novum  est  quaedam  crescendo  mutari.  Infans  fuit,  f actus 
est  pubes :  alia  eius  proprietas  fit :  ille  enim  inrationalis  est, 
bic  rationalis.  Quaedam  incremento  non  tantum  in  maius 
exeunt,  sed  in  aliud.  Non  fit,  inquit,  aliud,  quod  maius  fit : 
utrum  lagenam  an  dolium  inpleas  vino,  nihil  refert :  in  utroque 
proprietas  vini  est :  et  exiguum  mellis  pondus  ex  magno  sa- 
pore  non  differt.  Diversa  ponis  exempla :  in  istis  enim  eadem 
qualitas  est :  quamvis  augeantur,  manent.  1 5.  Quaedam  ampli- 
ficata  in  suo  genere  et  in  sua  proprietate  perdurant :  quaedam 
post  multa  incrementa  ultima  demum  vertit  adiectio  et  novam 
illis  aliamque  quam  in  qua  fuerunt,  condicionem  inprimit. 
Unus  lapis  facit  fornicem,  ille,  qui  latera  inclinata  cuneavit  et 
interventu  suo  vinxit.  Summa  adiectio  quare  plurimum  facit 
vel  exigua  ?  Quia  non  auget,  sed  inplet.  Quaedam  processu 
priorem  exuunt  formam  et  in  novam  transeunt.  16.  Ubi  ali- 
quid  animus  din  protulit  et  magnitudinem  eius  sequendo  lassa- 


186  L.  ANNAEI  SENECAE  EPISTULAE  SELECTAE. 

tiis  est,  infinitum  coepit  vocari :  quod  longe  aliud  factum  est 
quam  fuit,  cum  magnum  videretur,  sed  finitum.  Eodem  modo 
aliquid  difficulter  secari  cogitavimus :  novissime  crescente  hac 
difficultate  insecahile  inventUm  est.  Sic  ab  eo  quod  vix  et 
aegre  movebatur  processimus  ad  inmohUe.  Eadem  ratione 
aliquid  secundum  naturam  fuit :  boc  in  aliam  proprietatem 
magnitudo  sua  transtulit  et  bonum  fecit.  Vale. 


EPITAPHIUM  SENECAE. 


Cura,  labor,  meritum,  sumpti  pro  munere  honores, 
Ite,  alias  post  hanc  sOllicitate  animas ! 

Me  procul  a  vobis  deus  evocat :  illicet  actis 
Rebus  terrenis  hospita  terra  Yale ! 

Corpus  avara  tamen  solemnibus'accipe  saxis, 
Namque  animam  coelo  reddimus,  ossa  tibL^^j^ 


L.  ANNAEI  SENECAE 

EPIGRAMMATA  SUPER  EXILIO. 


I.  Ad  Corsicam. 

Corsica  Phocaico  tellus  habitata  colono, 

Corsica,  quae  patrio  nomine  Cyrnus  eras, 
Corsica  Sardinia  brevior,  porrectior  Ilva, 

Corsica  piscosis  pervia  fluminibus, 

Corsica  terribilis,  cum  primum  incanduit  aestas, 
Saevior,  ostendit  cum  ferus  ora  canis, 

Parce  relegatis,  boc  est,  iam  parce  sepultis : 
Vivorum  cineri  sit  tua  terra  levis. 

II.  De  Eadem. 

Barbara  praeruptis  inclusa  est  Corsica  saxis, 
Horrida,  desertis  undique  vasta  locis. 

Non  poma  autumnus,  segetes  non  educat  aestas, 
Canaque  Palladio  munere  bruma  caret. 
Umbrarum  nullo  ver  est  laetabile  foetu, 

Nullaque  in  infausto  nascitur  berba  solo. 

Non  panis,  non  baustus  aquae,  non  ultimus  ignis ; 
Hie  sola  baec  duo  sunt,  exsul  et  exsilium. 

III.  Querela. 

Occisi  iugulum  quisquis  scrutaris  amici, 

Tu  miserum  necdum  me  satis  esse  putas  ? 
Desere  confossum  :  victori  volnus  iniquo 
Mortiferum  inpressit  mortua  saepe  manus. 


188 


L.  ANNAEI  SENECAE 


IV.  Item. 

Quisquis  es,-— et  nomen  dicam  :  dolor  omnia  cogit-« 
Qui  nostrum  cinerem  nunc,  inimice,  premis 

Et  non  contentus  tantis  subitisque  minis 
Stringis  in  exstinctum  tela  cruenta  caput : 

Crede  mibi,  vires  aliquas  natura  sepulcbris 
Attribuit :  tumulos  vindicat  umbra  suos. 

Ipsos  crede  deos  hoc  nunc  tibi  dicere,  livor, 

Hoc  tibi  nunc  manes  dicere  crede  meos : 

Res  est  sacra,  miser.  Noli  mea  tangere  fata. 
Sacrilegae  bustis  abstinuere  manus. 

V.  Item. 

Carmina  mortifero  tua  sunt  suffusa  veneno, 

Et  sunt  criminibus  pectora  nigra  magis. 

Nemo  tuos  fugiat,  non  vir,  non  femina  dentes, 

Hand  puer,  baud  aetas  undique  tuta  senis, 

IJtque  furens  totas  immittit  saxa  per  urbes 
In  populum,  sic  tu  verba  maligna  iacis.  • 

Sed  solet  insanos  populus  compescere  sanus, 

Et  repetunt  motum  saxa  remissa  caput. 

In  te  nunc  stringit  nullus  non  carmina  vates, 

Inque  tuam  rabiem  publica  Musa  furit. 

Hum  sua  conpositus  nondum  bene  concutit  anna 
Miles,  it  e  nostra  lancea  torta  manu. 

Bellus  homo,  et  valide  capitalia  carmina  ludis, 
Deque  tuis  manant  atra  venena  iocis. 

Sed  tu  perque  iocum  dicis  vinumque :  quid  ad  rem^, 
Si  plorem,  risus  si  tuus  ista  facit  ? 

Quare  tolle  iocos :  non  est  iocus  esse  malignum. 
Numquam  sunt  grati,  qui  nocuere  sales. 

VI.  Ad  Amicum. 

Crispe,  meae  vires,  lassarumque  ancora  rerum, 
Crispe,  vel  antique  conspiciende  foro : 

Crispe  potens  numquam,  nisi  cum  prodesse  volebas, 
Naufragio  littus  tutaque  terra  meo. 


EPIGEAMMATA  SUPEE  EXILIC. 


189 


Solus  honor  nobis  arx  et  tutissima  nobis 
Et  nunc  afflicto  sola  quies  aninio : 

Crispe,  fides  dulcis,  placidique  acerriina  virtus, 
Cuius  Cecropio  pectora  melle  madent : 

Maxima  facundo  vel  avo  vel  gloria  patri, 

Quo  solo  careat  si  quis,  in  exsilio  est : 

An  tua,  qui  iaceo  saxis  telluris  adbaerens, 

Mens  mecum  est,  nulla  quae  cobibetur  bumo  ? 

VII.  De  Qualitate  Temporis. 

Omnia  tempus  edax  depascitur,  omnia  carpit, 
Omnia  sede  movet,  nil  sinit  esse  diu. 

Flumina  deficiunt,  profugum  mare  littora  siccat, 
Subsidunt  montes  et  iuga  celsa  ruunt. 

Quid  tarn  parva  loquor  ?  moles  pulcberrima  coeli 
Ardebit  tlammis  tota  repente  suis. 

Omnia  mors  poscit.  Lex  est,  non  poena,  perire  : 
Hie  aliquo  mundus  tempore  nullus  erit. 

VIII.  VOTUM. 

Sic  mihi  sit  frater  maiorque  minorque  superstes, 
Et  de  me  doleat  nil  nisi  morte  mea. 

Sic  illos  vincam,  sic  vincar  rursus  amando  : 

Mutuus  inter  nos  sic  bene  certet  amor. 

Sic  dulci  Marcus,  qui  nunc  sermone  fritinnit, 
Facundo  patruos  provocet  ore  duos. 

IX.  Ad  Cordubam. 

Corduba  solve  comas  et  tristes  indue  voltus  : 

Inlacrimans  cineri  munera  mitte  meo. 

Nunc  longinqua  tuum  deplora,  Corduba,  vatem, 
Corduba,  non  alio  tempore  moesta  magis  : 
Tempore  non  illo,  quo  versi  viribus  orbis 
Incubuit  belli  tota  ruina  tibi. 

Cum  geminis  oppressa  malis  utrimque  peribas  : 
Et  tibi  Pompeius,  Caesar  et  bostis  crat. 


I 


190  L.  ANNAEI  SENEOAE  EPIGEAMMATA  SUPEE  EXILIC. 


Tempore  non  illo,  quo  ter  tibi  funera  centum 
lieu  nox  una  dedit,  quae  tibi  summa  fuit. 
Non,  Lusitanus  quateret  cum  moenia  latro, 
Figeret  et  portas  lancea  torta  tuas. 

Ille  tuus  quondam  magnus,  tua  gloria,  civis 
Infigar  scopulo.  Corduba  solve  comas, 

Et  gratare  tibi,  quod  te  natura  supremo 
Alluit  oceano  :  tardius  ista  doles. 


Coin  of.  Agrippina,  wife  of  Claudius,  mother  of  Nero.  (It  was  through  her 
that  Seneca  was  recalled  from  exile :  Introduction,  p.  14.)  From  the  British 
Museum. 


EPISTULAE  SENECAE,  NERONIS  IMPERATORIS 
MAGISTRI,  AD  PAULDM  APOSTOLUM  ET 
PAULI  APOSTOLI  AD  SENECAM.* 


S.  Hieronymus  de  Seneca  in  Catalogo  Sanctorum. 

Lucius  Annaeus  Seneca  Cordubensis,  Sotionis  stoici  discipu- 
lus  et  patruus  Lucani  poetae,  continentissimae  vitae  fuit,  quern 
non  ponerem  in  catalogo  sanctorum,  nisi  me  epistulae  illae 
provocarent,  quae  leguntur  a  plurimis,  Pauli  ad  Senecam  et 
Senecae  ad  Paulum.  In  quibus,  cum  esset  Neronis  magister 
et  illius  temporis  potentissimus,  optare  se  dicit  eius  esse  loci 
apud  suos,  cuius  sit  Paulus  apud  Cliristianos.  Hie  ante  bien¬ 
nium  quam  Petrus  et  Paulus  martyrio  coronarentur,  a  Nerone 
interfectus  est. 


EPISTULA  I. 

Seneca  Paulo  salutem. 

Credo  tibi,  Paule,  nunciatum  esse,  quod  beri  [de  te]  cum 
Lucilio  nostro  de  jipocrypbis  et  aliis  rebus  sermonem  habueri- 
mus.  Erant  enim  quidam  disciplinarum  tuarum  comites  me- 
cum.  Nam  in  liortos  Salustianos  secesseramus,  quo  loco  occa- 
sione  nostra  alio  tendentes  hi,  de  quibus  dixi,  visis  .nobis  ad- 
iuncti  sunt.  Certe  quod  tui  praesentiam  optavimus,  et  hoc 
scias  volo  :  libello  tuo  lecto,  id  est  de  plurimis  aliquas  litteras 
quas  ad  aliquam  civitatem  seu  caput  provinciae  direxisti,  mira 
exhortatione  vitam  moralem  continentes,  usque  refecti  sumus. 


*  See  Introduction,  pp.  31,  35. 


192 


L.  ANNAEI  SENECAE 


Quos  sensus  non  puto  ex  te  dictos  sed  per  te,  certe  aliquando 
ex  te  et  per  te  :  tanta  enim  maiestas  earum  est  rerum  tanta- 
que  generositate  calens,  ut  vix  sutfecturas  putem  aetates  homi- 
num,  quibus  institui  perficique  possint.  Bene  te  valere,  frater, 
cupio. 

EPISTULA  11. 

Senecae  Paulus  salutem. 

Litteras  tuas  bilaris  heri  accepi,  ad  quas  rescribere  statiin 
potui,  si  praesentiam  iuvpnis,  quern  ad  te  eram  missurus,  lia- 
buissem.  Scis  enim,  qu^do  et  per  quern  et  quo  tempore  et 
cui  quid  dari  committique  debeat.  Rogo  ergo,  non  putes  [te] 
neglectum,  dum  personae  qualitatem  respicio.  Sed  quod  litte- 
ris  meis  vos  bene  acceptos  alicubi  scribis,  felicem  me  arbitror 
tanti  viri  iudicio.  Neque  enim  hoc  diceres,  censor,  sophista, 
m agister  tanti  principis  et  iam  omnium,  nisi  quia  vere  dicis. 
Opto  te  diu  bene  valere. 

EPISTULA  III. 

Seneca  Paulo  salutem. 

Quaedam  volumina  ordinavi  et  divisionihus.^uis  statum  eis 
dedi.  Ea  quoque^Caesari  legere  sum  desfinatus.  Si  modo 
sors  prospere  annuerit,  ut  novas  afferat  aures,  eris  forsan  et  tu 
praesens  :  sin,  alias  reddam  tibi  diem,  ut  hoc  opus  invicem  in- 
spiciamus.  Et  possem  non  prius  edere  ei  earn  scripturam, 
nisi  prius  tecum  conferam,  si  modo  [etiam]  impune  hoc  fieri 
potuisset,  ut  scires  non  te  praeteriri.  Vale. 

EPISTULA  IV. 

Paulus  Senecae  salutem. 

Quotienscunque  litteras  tuas  audio,  praesentiam  tui  cogito 
nee  aliud  existimo  quam  omni  tempore  te  nobiscum  esse. 
Cum  primum  itaque  venire  coeperis,  invicem  nos  et  de  proxi¬ 
mo  videbimus.  Bene  te  valere  opto. 


AD  PAULUM  EPISTULAE. 


193 


EPISTULA  V. 

Seneca  Paulo  salutem. 

Nimio  tuo  secessu  angimur.  Quid  est  ?  vel  quae  res  te 
remo[ra]tum  faciunt  ?  si  indignatio  dominae,  quod  a  ritu  et 
secta  veteri  recesseris  et  alios  rursum  converteris,  erit  postu- 
landi  locus,  ut  ratione  factum,  non  levitate  hoc  existimetur. 

EPISTULA  VI. 

Senecae  et  Lucilio  Paulus  salutem. 

De  his,  quae  mihi  scripsistis,  non  licet  arundine  et  atramento 
eloqui,  quarum  altera  res  notat  et  designat  aliquid,  altera  evi- 
denter  ostendit,  praecipue  cum  sciam  inter  vos  esse,  hoc  est 
apud  VOS  et  in  vobis,  qui  me  intelligant.  Honor  omnibus  ha- 
bendus  est  et  tanto  magis,  quanto  indignandi  occasionem  cap- 
tant.  Quibus  si  patientiam  demus,  omni  modo  eos  ex  quaqua 
parte  vincemus,  si  modo  hi  sunt,  qui  poenitentiam  sui  gerant. 
Bene  valete. 

EPISTULA  VII. 

Annaeus  Seneca  Paulo  et  Theophilo  salutem. 

Profiteer  bene  me  acceptum  lectione  litterarum  tuarum, 
quas  Galatis,  Corinthiis,  Achaeis  :^isi^i,  et  ita  invicem  viva- 
mus,  ut  etiam  cum  horrore  divine  esse  exhibes.  Spiritus  enim 
sanctus  in  te  et  super  te  excelsus^sublimiores  sanctis  venerabi-. 
les  sensus  exprimit.  Vellem  itaque,  cures  et  cetera,  ut  mafe- 
stati  earum  cultus  sermonis  non  desit.  Et  ne  quid  tibi,  frater, 
surripiam  aut  conscientiae  meae  debeam,  confiteor  Augustum 
sensibus  tuis  motum.  Cui  lecto  virtutis  in  te  exordio  ista  vox 
fuit :  mirari  eum  posse,  ut  qui  non  legitime  imbutus  sit,  taliter 
sentiat.  Cui  ego  respondi,  solere  deos  ore  innocentium  effari, 
baud  eorum,  qui  praevaricare  doctrin£^  su^  quid  possint.  Et 
date  ei  exemplo  Vatieni  hominis  rusticuli,  cui  viri  duo  appa- 
ruissent  in  agro  Reatino,  qui  postea  Castor  et  Pollux  sunt  no- 
minati,  satis  instructus  videtur.  Vale. 


194 


L.  ANNAEI  SENECAE 


EPISTULA  VIII. 

Paulus  Senecae  salutem. 

Licet  non  ignorem  Caesarem  nostrarum  rerum  admirato- 
rem,  si  quando  deficiet  amatorem  esse,  permittes  tamen  te  non 
laedi  sed  admoneri :  puto  enim  te  graviter  fecisse,  quod  ei  in 
notitiam  perferre  voluisti  id,  quod  ritui  et  disciplinae  eius  sit 
contrarium.  Cum  enim  ille  gentium  deos  colat,  quid  tibi  vi¬ 
sum  sit,  ut  hoc  scire  cum  velles,  non  video,  nisi  nimid  amore 
meb  facere  te  hoc  existimo.  Rogo  de  futuro,  ne  id  agas. 
Cavendum  est  enim,  ne  dum  me  diligis,  offensum  dominae 
facias,  cuius  quidem  offensa  neque  oberit,  si  perse veraverit,  ne- 
que,  si  non  sit,  proderit :  si  est  regina,  non  indignabitur,  si 
mulier  est,  offendetur.  Bene  vale. 

EPISTULA  IX. 

Seneca  Paulo  salutem. 

Scio  te  non  tarn  tui  causa  commotum  litteris,  quas  ad  te 
de  editione  epistolarum  tuarum  Caesari  feci,  quam  natura 
[ipsarum]  rerum,  quae  ita  mentes  hominum  ab  omnibus  arti- 
bus  et  moribus  rectis  revocat,  ut  non  hodie  admirer,  quippe 
[ut]  qui  multis  documentis  hoc  iam  notissimum  habeam.  Igi- 
tur  nove  agamus,  et  si  quid  facile  in  praeteritum  factum  est, 
veniam  irrogabis.  Misi  tibi  librum  de  verborum  copia.  “^Vale 
Paule  carissime. 


EPISTULA  X. 

Senecae  Paulus  salutem. 

Quotienscunque  tibi  scribo  et  nomen  meum  tibi  subse- 
cundo,  gravem  et  sectae  meae  incongruentem  rem  facio.  De- 
beo  enim,  ut  saepe  professus  sum,  cum  omnibus  qmnia  esse 
et  id  observare  in  tua  persona,  quod  lex  Romana  honor!  se- 
natus  concessit,  perlecta  epistola^  ultimuih  locum'  eligere,  ne 
cum  aporia  et  dedecore  cupiam  [illud]  efficere,  quod  mei  ar- 


AD  PADLUM  EPISTULAE. 


195 


bitrii  fuerit.  Vale,  devotissime  magister.  Data  quinto  Calen- 
darum  luli^  Nerone  IV  et  Messala  consulibus. 

EPISTULA  XL 
Seneca  Paulo  salutem. 

Ave  mi  Paule  carissime.  Si  mibi  nominique  meo  vir  tan- 
tus  et  dilectus  omnibus  modis  non  dico  fueris  iunctus  sed  ne- 
cessario  mixtus,  optime  actum  erit  de  Seneca  tuo.  Cum  sis 
igitur  vertex  et  altissimorum  omnium  montium  cacumen,  non 
ego  vis  laeter,  si  ita  sim  tibi  proximus,  ut  alter  similis  tui 
deputer?  Hand  itaque  te  indignum  prima  facie  epistolarum 
nominandum  censeas,  ne  tarn  temptare  me  quam  ludere  vi- 
dearis,  quippe  cum  scias  civem  esse  te  Romanum.  [Utijnam 
qui  meus,  tuns  apud  te  locus,  qui  tuus,  velim  ut  meus.  Vale 
mi  Paule  carissime.  Data  X.  Cal.  April.  Aproniano  et  Capi- 
tone  consulibus. 

EPISTULA  XII. 

Seneca  Paulo  salutem. 

Ave  mi  Paule  carissime.  Putasne  me  baud  contristari  et 
non  luctuosum  esse,  quod  de  innocentia  vestra  subinde  suppli- 
cium  sumatur?  debinc  quod  tarn  duros  tamque  obnoxios  vos 
reatui  omnis  populus  iudicet,  putans  a  vobis  effici,  quidquid 
in  urbe  contrarium  fit?  Feramus  aequo  animo  et  utamur  foro, 
quod  sors  concessit,  donee  invicta  felicitas  finem  malis  im- 
ponat.  Tulit  et  priscorum  aetas  Macedonem  Pbilippi  filium 
et  post  Darium  Dionysium.  Nostra  quoque  Caium  Caesarem, 
quibus  quicquid  libuit,  licuit.  Incendium  urbs  Romana  mani¬ 
festo  saepe  unde  patiatur,  constat.  Sed  si  etfari  humilitas  po- 
tuisset  bumana,  quid  causae  sit,  et  impune  in  bis  tenebris 
loqui  liceret,  iam  omnes  omnia  viderent.  Cbristiani  et  ludaei 
quasi  maebinatores  incendii  affect!  supplicio  uri  solent.  Gras- 
sator  iste,  quisquis  est,  cui  voluptas  carnificina  est  et  menda’ 
cium  velamentum,  tempori  suo  destinatus  est.  Ut  optimus 
quisque  unum  pro  multis  donatum  est  caput,  ita  et  bic  devo- 


196 


L.  ANNAEl  SENECAE  EPISTULAE. 


tus  pro  omnibus  igni  cremabitur.  Centum  triginta  duae  do- 
mus,  insulae  quatuor  [in]  sex  diebus  arsere,  septimus  pausam 
dedit.  Bene  te  valere  frater  opto.  Data  quinto  Cal.  April. 
Frugi  et  Basso  consiilibus. 

EPISTULA  XIII. 

Seneca  Paulo  salutem. 

[Ave  mi  Paule  carissime.]  Allegorice  et  aenigmatice  multa 
a  te  usquequaque  opera  concluduntur  et  ideo  rerum  tanta  vis 
et  muneris  tibi  tributa  non  ornamento  verborum  sed  cultu 
quodam  decoranda  est.  Nec  vereare,  quod  saepius  te  dixisse 
retineo,  multos,  qui  talia  ailectent,  sensus  corrumpere,  virtutes 
rerum  evirare.  Ceterum  mibi  concedas  velim  latinitati  morem 
gerere,  honestis  vocibus  speciem  adbibere,  ut  generosi  muneris 
concessio  digne  a  te  possit  expediri.  Bene  vale.  Data  V. 
Non.  lul.  Leone  et  Sabino  consulibus. 

EPISTULA  XIV. 

Paulus  Senecae  salutem. 

Perpendenti  tibi  ea  sunt  revelata,  quae  paucis  divinitas  con¬ 
cessit.  Certus  igitur  ego  in  agro  iam  fertili  semen  fortissi- 
mum  sero,  non  quidem  materiam,  quae  corrumpi  videtur,  sed 
verbum  stabile,  dei  derivamentum  crescentis  et  manentis  in 
aeternum.  Quod  prudentia  tua  assecuta  [est],  indeficiens  fore 
debebit,  etlinicorum  Israelitarumque  observationes  censere  vi- 
tandas.  Novum  te  auctorem  feceris  lesu  Cbristi  praeconiis 
ostendendo  rhetoricis  irreprebensibilem  sopbiam,  quam  pro- 
pemodum  adeptus  regi  temporali  eiusque  domesticis  atque  fidis 
amicis  insinuabis  quibus  aspera  et  incapabilis  erit  persuasio, 
cum  plerique  illorum  minime  flectantur  insinuationibus  tuis. 
Quibus  vitale  commodum  sermo  dei  instillatus,  novum  bomi- 
nem  sine  corruptela  perpetuamque  animam  parit  ad  deum 
is'^lnc  properantem.  Yale  Seneca  carissime  nobis.  Data  Cal. 
August!  Leone  et  Sabino  consulibus. 


NOTES. 


12 


ABBREVIATIONS  USED  IN  THE  NOTES. 


A.  &  G.,  Allen  &  Greenough’s  Latin 
Grammar. 

A.  &  S.,  Andrews  &  Stoddard’s  Latin 
Grammar. 

abaci.,  absolute, 
ad  Att.,  ad  Atticum. 
ad  Fam.,  ad  Familiares. 

Ann.,  Annales,  Annals. 

Ars  Amat.,  Ars  Amatoria. 

Ars  Poet.,  Ars  Poetica. 

B.  &  M.,  Bullion  &  Morris’s  Latin  Gram. 
Bell.  Gall.,  Bellum  Gallicum, 

Brut.,  Brutus. 

Catil.,  Catiliue. 
cf.,  confer,  consult. 

Cic.,  Cicero. 

Class.  Diet.,  Classical  Dictionary,  An- 
thon’s  or  Smith’s. 

De  Beuef.,  De  Beneficiis. 

De  Brev.  Vit.,  De  Brevitate  Vitae. 

De  Civ.  Dei,  De  Civitate  Dei. 

De  Clem.,  De  dementia. 

De  Consol,  ad  Helv.,  De  Consolatione 
ad  Helviam. 

De  Consol,  ad  Marc.,  De  Consolatione 
ad  Marciam. 

De  Consol,  ad  Polyb.,  De  Consolatione 
ad  Polybium. 

De  Const.  Sap.,  De  Constautia  Sapi- 
entis. 

De  Fin.,  De  Finibus. 

De  Leg.,  De  Legibus. 

De  Oflic.,  De  Offleiis. 

De  Orat.,  De  Oratore. 

De  Otio  Sap.,  De  Otio  Sapientis. 

De  Prov.,  De  Providentia. 

De  Per.  Nat.,  De  Rerum  Natura. 

De  Senect.,  De  Senectute. 

De  Stoic,  repug.,  De  Stoicorum  repug- 
nantiis. 

De  Tranq.,  De  Tranquillitate  Animi. 

De  Vit.  Beat.,  De  Vita  Beata. 

Diet.  Antiq.,  Dictionary  of  Antiquities, 
dimin.,  diminutive. 

Diog.  Laert.,  Diogenes  Laertius. 

e.  g.,  exempli  gratia,  for  example. 
Epig.,  Epigram. 

Epit.,  Epitome. 

Florileg.,  Florilegium. 


Georg.,  Georgies. 

Germ.,  Germania. 

H.,  Harkness’s  Latin  Grammar. 

Hor.,  Horace. 

i.  e.,  id  est,  that  is. 

impf.,  imperfect. 

impers.,  impersonal. 

in  M.  Anton.,  in  M.  Antouium. 

in  Verr.,  in  Verrem. 

lustit.  Div.,  Institutiones  Divinae. 

Juv.,  Juvenal. 

Lips.,  Lipsius, 

M. ,  Madvig’s  Latin  Grammar. 

Memor.,  Memorabilia. 

N. ,  note. 

Nat.  Quaest.,  Natural  Questions. 

Odys.,  Odyssey. 

partit.,  partitive, 
jiers.,  personal. 

Physiol.  Stoic.,  Physiologia  Stoicorum. 
Pint.,  Plutarch, 
post- Aug.,  post- Augustan, 
pred.,  predicate. 

Quint.,  Quintilian. 

relat.,  relative. 

Sat.,-  Satire.' 

Saturn.  Conviv.,  Saturnalia  Convivia. 
subst.,  substantive. 

Suet.,  Suetonius. 

Tac.,  Tacitus. 

Tiber.,  Tiberius. 

Trist.,  Tristia. 

Tusc.  Disp.,  Tusculan  Disputations. 

V.  1.,  varia  lectio,  various  reading, 
vid.,  vide,  see. 

Virg.,  Virgil. 

viz.,  videlicet,  namely. 

Xenoph.,  Xenophon. 

Z.,  Zumpt’s  Latin  Grahimai*. 


NOTES 


Fickert  gives  the  title  of  Dialogues  to  nine  of  the  shorter 
philosophical  and  ethical  treatises  of  feeneca,  quoting  Quintilian, 
Be  Institutione  Oratoria,  x.  1,  129,  and  Seneca,  Be  Benejlciis,  v. 
19,  8.  Haase,  in  the  Teubner  edition  of  Seneca’s  Works,  adopts 
the  same  title,  making  the  number  of  dialogues  to  be  twelve. 
They  are,  however,  in  no  usual  or  proper  sense  of  the  word, 
dialogues,  such  as  Plato  and  Cicero  wrote,  but  are  rather  trea¬ 
tises  or  moral  essays  addressed  to  different  individuals,  and  en¬ 
livened  by  occasional  questions  and  answers,  somewhat  after  the 
manner  of  personal  discussions. 


DE  PROVIDENTIA. 

Argumentum. — I.  Seneca  affirms  that  there  is  a  providence,  i.  e.  a 
ruler  and  director  of  the  world,  and  he  argues  that  this  must  be  so  from 
the  movement,  order,  and  constancy  of  all  things.  One  special  point, 
however,  his  friend  Lucilius  complains  of,  viz.,  “that  evils  fall  upon 
good  men.”  Seneca,  leaving  the  general  topie,  devotes  himself  to  this, 
and  says  that  the  deity  loves  good  men,  and  so  does  not  send  evils  upon 
them  to  punish  them,  but  as  a  father,  to  correct  and  restrain  them. 
II.  Those  are  not  really  evils  which  happen  to  good  men,  since  evils 
cannot  fall  upon  these  and  overcome  them.  Evils  are  to  be  looked 
upon  as  chastenings  and  exercise  for  good  men,  just  as  the  athletes  are 
trained  for  victory  in  the  publie  games.  Cato’s  example  is  adduced,  and 
his  praise  celebrated.  III.,  IV.  He  now  proceeds  to  give  his  reasons 
why  evils  happen  to  the  good.  First,  it  is  for  their  benefit  upon  whom 
they  fall,  as  medicine  is  given  to  the  sick,  and  to  harden  them  and  render 
them  fit  for  the  contest  with  the  world.  V.  Next,  he  shows  that  evils 
come  upon  all  men ;  hence  the  good  being  thus  treated  by  the  deity  is 
a  proof  that  the  vulgar  notion  in  regard  to  good  and  evil  things  is  false. 
His  third  reason  is,  that  good  men  willingly  aceept  what  is  sent  upon 
them,  for  they  offer  themselves  freely  to  god  and  fate.  As  a  fourth 


200 


NOTES. 


reason,  he  avows  that  fate  exists  from  eternity,  and  has  fixed  all  things 
by  au  eternal  decree.  VI.  Finally,  he  repeats  that  these  are  not  really 
evils;  good  men  are  born  and  trained  for  exemplars  to  others;  and  he 
brings  in  the  deity,  exhorting  in  a  lofty  strain,  and  arousing  to  strength 
and  endurance.  Stoic-like,  Seneca’s  last  words  are.  If  it  tries  you  too 
much  to  bear  these  ills  of  life,  who  holds  you  back  ?  The  door  is  open : 
go  forth. 


Cap.  I. — 1.  Lucili  :  Lucilius  Junior,  procurator  of  Sicily,  was 
the  friend  to  whom  Seneca  addresses,  not  only  this  treatise,  but 
also  his  “Epistles”  and  “Natural  Questions.”  He  is  generally 
thought  to  have  been  the  author  of  a  poem  of  some  note,  entitled 
“Aetna,”  in  which  an  attempt  is  made  to  account,  on  philosoph¬ 
ical  principles,  for  the  physical  phenomena  presented  by  the 
volcano.  Very  little  is  known  of  his  life  and  career.  Cf  Epist. 
79. — ita,  si,  M.  442  a. — accidere:  Lips,  and  others  read  accide- 
rent^  tlie  subj.  being  the  mood  used  in  indirect,  dependent  ques¬ 
tions;  H.  529,  M.  356. —in  contextu  operis,  in  the  progress  of 
(i.  e.  in  another  part  of)  the  woi'lc.  Some  critics  suppose  that  a 
separate  work  is  here  referred  to. — cum  praeesse  .  .  .  nobis 
deum ;  this  language  implies  both  a  general  and  special  provi¬ 
dence,  in  accordance  with  the  fuller  and  clearer  Christian  view. 

• — contradictiouem,  post-Aug.,  objection,  viz.,  if  there  is  a  provi¬ 
dence,  why  do  so  many  evils  befall  good  men  ? — manente  lite 
integra,  the  primary  question  remaining  untouched,  viz.  whether 
there  is  a  providence  ? — agam,  I  will  plead,  used  in  a  forensic 
sense. 

2.  non  sine  aliqiio  .  .  .  stare :  in  Epist.  31  reference  is  made 
to  the  omnipotence  of  the  deity :  “  God,  the  most  high  and  pow¬ 
erful,  himself  upholdeth  {rehit)  all  things.”  Cf.  Heb.  i.  3,  “  Up¬ 
holding  all  things  by  the  word  of  his  power.” — fortuiti  inpetus  : 
in  opposition  to  the  Epicurean  “fortuitous  concurrence  of  atoms.” 
— et  qnae  casns,  etc.  The  argument  is,  that  in  those  things 
which  are  the  result  of  chance  there  is  no  order,  no  consistency; 
that,  on  the  other  hand,  in  the  mundus  {Konyog)  all  things  happen 
according  to  law,  and  consistently;  therefore,  they  are  not  the 
result  of  chance,  but  are  directed  by  an  overruling  mind  and 
purpose. — cito  axiaUiXQ  =  incurrere  in  se  et  inpedire,  laps.  Tliis 


DE  PEOVIDENTIA.  I.  2-4. 


201 


word,  arietare^  is  frequently  used  by  Seneca  in  the  sense  of  im- 
j)eding  or  hindering ;  cf.  Be  Tranq.  1,  7,  n,  ;  Be  Vit.  Beata^  8,  5 ; 
Bpist.  56, 13.  The  meaning  seems  to  be  derived  from  the  man¬ 
ner  in  which  rams  make  their  attacks  upon  each  other  with 
their  horns,  or  from  the  use  of  a  battering-ram  in  demolishing 
walls  in  a  siege.  —  inoifensam,  uninterrupted.  —  aeternae  legis 
=  fate  or  providence,  according  to  the  Stoic  idea. — dispositore  : 
ef  depositor  ille  mundi  deus.^  Nat.  Quaest.  v.  18, 5  ;  also,  Lactantius, 
Instit.  Biv.  iv.  9.  The  whole  passage  reminds  one  of  the  Psalm¬ 
ist’s  words,  “  The  heavens  declare  the  glory  of  God,  and  the 
firmament  showeth  his  handiwork.”  Haase  reads,  disposito  relu- 
eentium. — non  esse  .  .  .  ordinem.  See  note  above,  on.fortuiti 
inpetus.  —  ut  .  .  .  sedeat  .  .  .  spectet,  etc.,  result  clauses.  — 
nec  iillum  .  .  .  sentiant,  i.  e.  on  account  of  evaporation  and 
absorption ;  cf.  Eccles.  i.  7,  “  All  the  rivers  run  into  the  sea,” 
etc. 

3.  ilia,  subject  of  accidunt.  —  elisorum,  poet,  expression.  — 
incendia  .  .  .  effusa,  cf  Virg.  Oeorg.  i.  472.  —  tuniultuosa,  tem¬ 
pestuous.,  restless. — alienis,  strange^  unusual. — miraculo,  v.  1.  mira- 
cula. — calentes  aquae  :  cf  Pliny,  Nat.  Hist.  ii.  106,  where  men¬ 
tion  is  made  of  hot  springs  whose  waters  were  esteemed  bene¬ 
ficial  to  health. — nova  insularum  .  .  .  spatia,  cf  Nat.  Quaest:  vi. 
21, 1,  where  is  recorded  the  appearance  of  an  island  in  the  midst 
of  the  Aegean  Sea  in  Seneca’s  time.  Cf.  also  Pliny,  Nat.  Hist.  ii. 
86,  89 ;  iv.  12 :  Livy,  Historia.,  xxxix.  56. — 4.  pelago  in  se  rece- 
dente,  i.  e.  at  ebb-tide;  pelago  is  frequently  used  in  post-Aug. 
prose  in  the  sense  of  mari. — eadem  .  .  .  operiri,  i.  e.  at  flood- 
tide. — volutatione,  post- Aug.  in  sense  of  restlessness.,  disquiet ;  cf. 
Be  Brer.  Vit.  2,  3.  —  ad  Iioram  ac  diem,  at  a  certain  hour  and 
day. — subeunt=j^wnt — lunare  sidus,  i.  e.  the  moon. — suo  .  .  . 
reserventur,  i.  e.  the  exposition  of  those  phenomena  in  nature 
which  do  not  take  place  fortuitously,  but  are  governed  by  fixed 
laws.  —  ista,  diiference  between  iste.,  ille.,  hie  ?  Cf.  Eamshorn’s 
Latin  Synonyms,  509. — quaeris :  H.  C.  Michaelis  thinks  that  the 
following  sentence  {in  gratiam,  etc.)  indicates  some  ground  of 
complaint  against  providence  on  the  part  of  the  person  ad¬ 
dressed  ;  hence  he  prefers  the  reading  quereris.,  which  has  some 
MS.  authority. 


202 


NOTES. 


5.  optimos,  sc.  mros.  —  immo  .  .  .  similitiido  :  in  Seneca’s 
Epistles  these  ideas  are  frequently  expressed  and  enlarged  upon ; 
cf.  41, 1,  2 ;  73, 16 ;  etc. — necessitudo,  post-Aug.,  very  strong  ex¬ 
pression.— aemiilsitor,  follower. —  vera  progenies,  cf.  Ps.  Ixxxvi. 
6 ;  1  John  iv.  3  ;  iii.  1,2;  truly  one  would  almost  affirm,  says 
Muretus,  that  this  man  had  handled  and  tasted  of  the  sacred 
Word.  See  Introd.  to  the  present  vol.  p.  26. — 6.  escendere, 
stronger  than  ascendere;  cf.  Be  Tranq.  15, 17. — vernularum,  post- 
Aug.  These  were  slaves  born  in  the  master’s  house ;  they  were 
considered  valuable  for  this  reason,  and  are  termed  by  Horace 
{Sat.  ii.  6,  66)  mmas  procaces.,  saucy,  impudent  slaves.  Cf.  Becker’s 
“  Callus,”  p.  202. — experitur  .  .  .  parat :  cf.  Heb.  xii.  6 ;  1  Cor. 
iv.  17. 

II.— 1.  Nihil  .  .  .  mali:  an  emphatic  reply  to  the  opening 
question  of  the  chapter ;  as  if  he  had  said,  “  adversity,  I  acknowl¬ 
edge,  may  befall  good  men,  but  evil  never.”  A  Stoical  paradox, 
and  affording  but  small  comfort  in  time  of  trouble. — tanta  .  .  . 
fontium,  so  great  oibundance  of  medicinal  fountains.,  i.  e.  impreg¬ 
nated  with  iron,  sulphur,  etc. — ne  .  .  .  quidem:  many  prefer 
nec,  as  being  more  usual  in  later  writers,  and  often  found  in 
Seneca. — in  snum  colorem  traliit:  he  gives  to  everything  the 
coloring  of  his  own  character ;  i.  e.  himself  a  good  man,  he  turns 
everything  to  good  account.  As  the  red  wine  assimilates  added 
drops  of  other  color,  so  the  good  man,  etc..  Lips. — nec  hoc  dico, 
non  sentit  ilia :  insensibility  to  affiiction,  Seneca  would  say,  is  a 
vice,  though  that  has  been  considered  one  of  the  moral  principles 
of  the  Stoics.  Lips,  says  that  this  apathy,  or  utter  indifference 
to  all  external  things,  belongs  to  the  school  of  Stilpo,  the  Mega- 
rian.  Cf.  Zeller’s  “  Socrates  and  Socratic  Schools,”  p.  236.  Plato 
is  reported  as  saying  to  a  person  who,  nude  in  the  middle  of 
winter,  was  embracing  a  marble  column  for  the  sake  of  exhibit¬ 
ing  endurance,  “  if  you  feel,  you  act  foolishly ;  if  you  do  not  feel, 
you  do  nothing  noble.” 

2.  mo^O  —  dummodo,if  only. — fortissimis  qnihusqiie;  quisque 
is  often  used  in  a  universal  or  general  relation  in  connection 
with  the  super!.,  which  always  precedes  it,  M.  495. — per  quos : 
how  does  per  with  accus.  differ  from  db  with  ablat.  f  M.  254,  obs. 


DE  TROVIDENTTA.  IT.  3-8. 


203 


3. — obicinntur,  i.  e.  dbjiciuntur ;  cf.  §  9,  n. — 3.  licet,  with  subj., 
M.  361. — boni  consulant,  let  them  take  it  in  good  part^  loe  content¬ 
ed  with  it. — aliter  .  .  .  aliter  =  dimmiliter.,  rarely  used  in  this 
sense. — iii(lnlg“eaiit,  a  peculiarly  appropriate  word  in  reference 
to  love  of  parents  for  their  children.  Cf.  Consol,  ad  Heh.  14,  3 ; 
16,  6,— ad  studia  obeunda:  for  force  of  gerundive  here,  cf.  H. 
544,  notes ;  B.  &  M.  1338.— feriatis  diebus :  for  the  holidays, 
which  were  very  numerous,  ci.feriae,  Diet,  of  Antiq. — siidorem, 
in  the  gymnastic  exercises. — umbra,  in  opposition  to  sudor em ; 
cf.  Cic.  Brut.  9. 

4.  Patrium  deus  habet  .  .  .  animum :  “  like  as  a  father 
pitieth  his  children,  so  the  Lord  pitieth  them  that  fear  him,” 
Ps.  ciii.  13. — illos  fortiter  et  .  .  .  iuquit,  etc.:  “whom  the  Lord 
loveth  he  chasteneth,  and  scourgeth  every  son  whom  he  receiv- 
eth,”  Heb.  xii.  6 ;  vid.  other  parts  of  the  same  chapter. — motii, 
V.  1.  mole. — de  genu  pugnat,  alluding  to  a  combatant  who  has 
been  wounded  in  his  lower  limbs,  and  yet  continues  to  fight  on 
Ins  knees.  Cf.  Epist.  66,  47. — 5.  Miraris  si,  A.  &  G.  333  b.  u. — 
exerceantur,  subj.  of  purpose,  H.  497 ;  B.  &  M.  1212;  M.  363  a. 
—  spectaut  di :  some  read  spectandi.  —  interritus,  cf.  Martial, 
'  Epig.  XV.,  xxiii.,  xxvii. — bonestior,  cf.  Epist.  99, 12 ;  Nat.  Quaest. 
vii.  31. 

6.  ista,  cf.  1,  4,  N. — puerilia,  some  read  sed  before  puerilia. — • 
respiciat,  subj.  after  dignum^  M.  363  b ;  H.  503,  2 ;  B.  &  M.  921 ; 
A.  &  G.  320  f. — operi  suo,  the  universe,  the  works  of  the  Cre¬ 
ator,  towards  which  his  attention  is  always  directed. — ecce  par 
deo  dignum,  l)ehold  a  pair  of  champions  worthy  the  attention  of  a 
god. — conpositus,  paired.,  matched.,  a  common  expression  with  ref¬ 
erence  to  gladiators. — quani  ut  spectet,  subj.  is  used  with  corn- 
par.  after  quam  qui,  quam  ut.,  when  the  degree  is  defined  and 
modified  by  a  sentence  implying  an  innate  quality  and  conse¬ 
quence,  Z.  560;  A.  &  G.  320  c;  H.  49,  62.  —  Catouem,  Cato  the 
younger,  a  man  of  many  noble  qualities.  See  Class.  Diet. — parti- 
bus  .  .  .  fractis,  alluding  to  the  defeat  of  Pompey  and  the  re¬ 
publicans  at  Pharsalia,  and  the  final  overthrow  in  Africa. — 
7.  Licet,  cf.  §  3,  n.^ — inquit,  i.  e.  Cato.  His  soliloquy  extends  to 
the  middle  of  tlie  next  section,  quam  ritam. — concesserint,  cus- 
todiaiitur  .  .  .  obsidcat,  subj.  after  licet,  H.  515,  in. ;  B.  &  M.  1282. 


204 


NOTES. 


8.  Petreius  et  luba:  Petreius  was  a  Roman  general  at  the 
battle  of  Thapsus  (b.c.  46),  when  the  Pompeian  party  siifiFered 
their  final  defeat.  luba  was  son  of  Hiempsal,  the  restored  king 
of  Numidia,  a  supporter  of  Pompey.  When  he  heard  of  the 
death  of  Cato,  it  is  said  that  he  turned  his  sword  upon  Petreius, 
who  had  been  the  companion  of  his  flight,  and  then  desj)atched 
himself.  Seneca  makes  his  death  to  have  occurred  previous  to 
that  of  Cato,  but  other  writers  give  it  as  above  stated. — fati 
conventio,  a  compact  between  them,  swper  fato^  about  or  in  re¬ 
gard  to  their  fate.  Lips.  Cf.  Be  Ira,  iii.  26,  4. — nostram,  i.  e.  em¬ 
phatically,  for  meam,  referring  to  Cato’s  dignity  and  loftiness  of 
soul. — milii,  i.  e.  Seneca. — stadia  .  .  .  tractat :  it  is  said  by  Plu¬ 
tarch  that  he  read  the  Phaedo  of  Plato,  on  the  immortality  of  the 
soul. — contaminaretur,  cf.  §  6,  note  on  respiciat. 

9.  revocata  :  in  the  games  and  gladiatorial  shows  and  stage 
plays,  one  who  had  approved  himself  to  the  people  was  frequently 
recalled. — difficiliore  parte,  etc.  The  gladiator  who  had  ac¬ 
quitted  himself  well  before  the  people  was  then  matched  with  a 
more  robust  antagonist. — inicitar,  i.  e.  injicitur.  The  prevailing 
spelling  now  is,  in  compounds  of  jaceo,  to  drop  the  j  after  the 
preposition ;  cf.  §  2,  obiciuntur. — repetitur,  alluding  to  the  cir¬ 
cumstances  of  Cato’s  death.  After  having  stabbed  himself  in  the 
breast,  his  wounds  were  dressed  by  his  friends;  when,  however, 
he  recovered  consciousness,  he  sought  death  a  second  time  by 
tearing  otf  the  bandages,  and  letting  his  entrails  protrude. — tarn 
claro  .  .  .  exitu.  The  Stoic  doctrine  of  suicide  is  often  extolled 
by  Seneca ;  yet,  with  a  sort  of  happy  inconsistency,  he  sometimes 
shows  that  he  appreciates  the  value  and  sacredness  of  human 
life  by  injunctions  hardly  compatible  with  the  usual  Stoic  doc¬ 
trine.  Cf.  Epist.  47,  9, 10,  etc.  Suicide,  it  is  to  be  borne  in  mind, 
is  at  best  but  cowardly  thing;  and  the  Stoic’s  praise  of  it 
shows  what  a  compound  of  pride  and  audacity  that  philosophy 
is  which  teaches  that  self-murder  is  a  glorious  thing,  and  to  be 
imitated  by  all  who  so  choose. 

III. — 1.  procedente  oratione,  m  the  process  of  my  discourse. — • 
pro  ipsis, /or  the  good  of  those  rery  persons;  cf.  Heb.  xii.  11. — 
adiciaui,  cf.  2, 9,  note,  inicitur. — persuadebo,  etc.  This  last  propo' 


DE  PROVIDENTIA.  III.  2-6. 


205 


sition  is  not  taken  up  at  the  close  of  the  discqprse.  Through 
some  mishap,  it  seems  not  to  have  survived  the  ravages  of  time. — 
2.  proici,  cf.  2,  9,  n. — deduci  :  Lips,  (with  whom  H.  C.  Michaelis 
agrees)  puts  a  comma  after  deduci;  this  allows  liberos  to  be  con¬ 
strued  with  ecferre,  and  the  wise  man  is  thus  represented  as  mani¬ 
festing  his  greatness  of  mind  under  the  severest  trials — poverty 
and  the  loss  of  wife  and  children. — iguominia,  cf.  De  Ira^  i.  16, 2. 
— radi  ossa,  i.  e.  with  the  scalpel. — legi,  cf.  in  capite  lecta  ossa 
(sunt).  Be  Benef.  v.  24,  3. — extrahi  venas :  a  learned  writer,  in 
reference  to  this  passage,  says  that  in  pertain  diseases,  as  mrix  or 
a  dilated  vein,  the  veins  were  taken  out ;  but  it  is  probable,  as 
Lips,  holds,  that  the  expression  is  used,  by  metonymy,  for  extrac¬ 
tion  of  blood  from  the  veins.  Cf.  Celsus,  De  Medicina^  vii.  31. 

3.  Deinetrii :  Demetrius  of  Sunium,  a  Cynic  philosopher,  and 
pupil  of  the  sophist  Khodius.  He  became  distinguished  as  a 
teacher  of  this  philosophy  at  Corinth.  He  lived  during  the 
reigns  of  the  emperors  Caligula  to  Domitian  inclusive,  and  was 
banished  from  Rome  because  of  the  freedom  with  which  he  re¬ 
proved  men  in  power  and  office.  Cf.  Tacitus,  Ann.  16,  34 ;  De 
Benef.  Vii.  8,  2. — Mhil,  etc.:  a  similar  saying  of  Bias,  one  of  the 
seven  sages,  is  recorded :  eXeyev  aTvxn  tov  drvx'iav  fxiij  ^spovra. — 
tit  .  .  .  fluxerint  .  .  .  ut,  although.,  etc. ;  ut  takes  this  meaning 
from  a  suppositional  force,  “  even  if  we  suppose  the  case.”  For 
subj.,  cf  A.  &  G.  266  c;  M.  440  a,  Obs.  4 ;  H.  515,  iii. ;  B.  &  M. 
1283. — male,  unfavorably,  or  badly. — vinceretur,  for  subj.,  cf  2,  6, 
'^.respiciat. — quasi  dicat:  the  words  oifortuna  extend  from 
ergo  to  vinci  parato. — 4.  quemque,  cf.  2,  2,  n.  quisque. 

5.  Mucio :  C.  Mucius  Scaevola,  who,  having  been  threatened 
with  burning  by  king  Porsenna  during  his  siege  of  Rome  (b.c. 
507),  thrust  his  right  hand  into  the  fire,  and  let  it  bur^  without 
flinching.  He  received  the  name  of  Scaevola,  or  left-handed, 
from  this  circumstance ;  vid.  Livy,  ii.  12, 13 ;  Plutarch’s  Publicola; 
Epist.  66,  51,  53. — Fabricio,  vid.  Plutarch’s  Pyrrhus,  and  Class. 
Diet. ;  cf  also  §  9,  N.  tormenti. — Rutilio  :  P.  Rutilius  Rufus,  a  Ro¬ 
man  statesman  and  orator,  who  was  unjustly  banished  (b.c.  92) 
on  a  charge  of  malversation;  vid.  Livy,  Epit.  lib.  Ixx. ;  Valerius 
Maximus,  ii.  10. — regem,  i.  e.  Porsenna. — exusta,  sc.  manu. 

6,  quod  rus  suum  .  .  .  tbdit?  because  he  cultivated  his  land 


20G 


NOTES. 


while  not  engaged  in  public  duties  ? — tarn  .  .  .  qaam,  often  to  be 
used  in  inverted  order ;  hence  here  read  as  if  written,  tarn  cum 
dwitiis  quam  cum  Pyrrho.  Cf.  De  Ira.,  i.  12,  4. — cum  divitiis,  cf. 
Epist.  120,  6. — triumphalis  seiiex,  alluding  to  his  victory  over 
the  Samnites,  Lucanians,  and  Bruttians,  b.c.  282 ;  cf.  Pliny,  Nat. 
Hist,  xviii.  3. — aucupia,  i.  e.  ares  captas,  by  metonymy,  abstract 
for  concrete. — esset,  si  .  .  .  congereret?  In  conditional  sen¬ 
tences  when  does  the  impf.  subj.  refer  to  past  time  ?  A.  &  G.  308  a ; 
H.  510  note  2. — si  .  .  .  he  had  stimulated  the  weakness, 

etc,.]  c,f.  Nat.  Quaest.  iv.  13,  7.  —  pomorum  strue  .  .  .  feras,  etc. 
Keference  is  especially  to  the  boar,  which  was  generally  the 
chief  dish  of  a  grand  coena.  It  was  brought  whole  to  the  table, 
and  placed  in  the  centre,  with  fruits,  vegetables,  and  other  dishes 
surrounding.  The  cooking  of  the  boar  was  an  expensive  affair. 
Cf. Becker’s  “Gallus,”  p.  l33;  Guhl  &  Koner’s  “The  Life  of  the 
Greeks  and  Romans,”  p.  504 ;  Hor.  Sat.  ii.  8,  6-9. — pomorum  = 
obsoniorum. 

7.  qui  ilium  damnaverunt.  The  equestrian  order,  who  were 
both  the  farmers  of  the  revenue  and  sole  judges  in  criminal  cases, 
accused  and  condemned  Rutilius,  because,  while  legatus.,  he  had 
incurred  their  hostility  by  his  efforts  towards  repressing  their 
extortion  in  the  province  of  Asia. — causam  .  .  .  seculis,  i.  e.  shall 
nerer  be  acquitted  of  injustice. — sibi  exilium,  sc.  eripi.  He  re¬ 
fused  to  return  to  Rome  at  the  invitation  of  Sulla. — solus  aliquid, 
cf.  Epi^.  24, 4.- — sed  lougius  fugit?  He  first  retired  to  Mitylene, 
and  afterwards  to  Smyrna. — inquit,  i.  e.  Rutilius,  whose  answer 
to  Sulla  extends  to  the  end  of  the  section. — felicitas,  a  play  on 
the  word,  from  the  cognomen  Felix,  in  which  Sulla  especially 
delighted. — Servilianum  lacum,  a  place  contiguous  to  the  Ba¬ 
silica  Julia,  near  the  forum,  where  many  of  those  proscribed  by 
Sulla  were  slain,  and  their  heads  exposed. — spoliarium,  cf.  Epist. 
93, 12. — vagautis,  i.  e.  mgantes;  more  recent  orthography  adopts 
the  termination  tis  for  tes. — multa  milia,  seven  thousand,  says 
Seneca,  De  Clem.  i.  12,  2.  Cf  Plutarch’s  Sulla. — post  fidem,  after 
a  pledge  of  protection  had  been  girerk. — per  ipsam  fldem,  he  had 
induced  them,  after  surrendering,  to  come  without  arms. 

8.  gladio  submovetur:  Sulla  was  accompanied,  not  by  the 
lictors  with  their  rods,  but  by  a  body-guard  of  soldiers  with 


DE  PEOVIDENTIA.  III.  8,  9. 


207 


their  swords. — pretium  caedis  :  two  talents  for  each  of  the  pro¬ 
scribed,  according  to  Plutarch.  A  talent  was  worth  about  $1200. 
— per  quaestorem  .  .  .  numeral,  i.  e.  he  caused  the  reward  to 
be  paid  from  the  public  treasury.  The  number  slaughtered  is 
not  accurately  known,  but  it  probably  amounted  to  many  thou¬ 
sands. — legem  Corneliam :  the  lex  de  sicariis  et  veneficis  was  en¬ 
acted  B.c.  82.  One  of  its  provisions  was  against  a  magistratus 
or  senator  who  conspired  in  order  that  a  person  might  be  con¬ 
demned  in  a  judicium  publicum^  etc.  The  punishment  inflicted 
by  this  law  upon  the  convicted  offender  was,  according  to  some, 
interdictio  aquae  et  ignis  ;  according  to  others,  deportatio  in  insu- 
lam  et  bmiorum  ademtio.  Cf.  Diet.  Antiq. — tulit :  towards  the 
close  of  B.c.  81  Sulla  was  appointed  dictator.  It  was  while  he 
was  absolute  master  of  the  Roman  world  that  the  horrors  of  the 
proscriptix)  occurred. — clavi,  cf.  De  Tranq.  15, 7. — volneri :  writers 
of  the  silver  age  frequently  employ  effect  for  cause,  wlnus  here 
being  used  for  clavi  wlnerantes  by  metonymy.  Tacitus  has  a 
similar  expression,  volnera  dirigebant^  i.  e.  tela  volnerantia  {Hist. 
ii.  35).  Cf.  Virgil,  Aeneid.,  x.  140. 

9.  tormeuti :  on  this  story  of  Regulus,  Mommsen  remarks : 
“  Nothing  is  known  with  certainty  as  to  fhe  end  of  Regulus ; 
even  his  mission  to  Rome — which  is  sometimes  placed  in  b.c. 
503,  sometimes  in  513 — is  very  imperfectly  attested.  The  later 
Romans,  who  sought  in  the  fortunes  and  misfortunes  of  their 
forefathers  mere  materials  for  school  themes,  made  Regulus  the 
type  of  heroic  misfortune,  as  they  made  Fabricius  the  type  of 
heroic  poverty,  and  circulated  a  number  of  anecdotes,  invented 
by  way  of  due  accompaniment  in  his  name — incongruous  embel¬ 
lishments,  contrasting  ill  with  serious  and  sober  history  ”  (“  Hist, 
of  Rome,”  ii.  59). — qnam  non  poeniteat,  how  far  he  is  from  repent¬ 
ing. — eamdem  sententiam  dicet,  i.  e.  that  prisoners  should  not 
be  exchanged  with  the  Carthaginians,  although  he  was  a  prison¬ 
er  himself — Maecenatem,  the  minister  and  friend  of  Augustus, 
the  patron  of  Virgil  and  Horace,  etc. ;  vid.  Class.  Diet. — cui : 
post-Aug.  writers  use  almost  any  form  of  the  passive  with  the 
dat.  of  the  agent,  instead  of  the  ablat.  with  ab ;  with  this  differ¬ 
ence,  however,  that  the  dat.,  with  the  present  tense,  denotes  that 
the  action  is  done  for  the  interest  of  the  agent;  with  the  perf 


208 


NOTES. 


and  pluperf.,  that  it  exists  for  him  as  completed.  Cf.  H.  388,  2, 
3 ;  B.  &  M.  845  ;  M.  250  a ;  A.  &  S.  127  c.— uxoris :  Terentia,  the 
wife  of  Maecenas,  was  said  to  have  been  the  favorite  mistress  of 
Augustus,  and  consequently  to  have  caused  serious  coldness  be¬ 
tween  the  emperor  and  her  husband.  Notwithstanding  her  infi¬ 
delity  and  looseness  of  morals,  Maecenas  continued  deeply  enam¬ 
oured  with  her  until  his  death.  Her  temper  was  morose,  and 
frequent  quarrels  occurred ;  but  they  seldom  lasted  long,  owing 
to  Maecenas’s  passionate  fondness  for  her.  These  numerous 
petty  quarrels  and  reconciliations  drew  from  Seneca  {Epist.  114, 
C)  the  remark,  that  Maecenas  married  a  wife  a  thousand  times, 
though  he  never  had  but  one. — aquarum  fragoribus,  the  noise 
(pleasing,  of  course)  admitted,  according  to  Lipsius,  by 

some  device  into  their  very  sleeping  apartments.  Seneca  fre¬ 
quently  refers  to  ponds  and  channels  of  water  in  the  houses  of 
wealthy  and  luxurious  Romans ;  as  in  Nat.  Quaest.  iii.  17,  2 : 
“  fishes  swim  in  the  chamber,  and  under  the  very  table  fish  are 
taken,  that  are  immediately  dressed  and  served.”  Cf.  Epist.  100, 
and  De  Tranq.  1,  5,  n.  aquas.,  etc. — ille,  i.  e.  Regulus. — ad  caiisam 
.  .  .  respicit,  submissively  he  has  respect  to  the  cause  of  his  suffer¬ 
ings. 

10.  Non  usque  eo,  not  to  so  great  an  extent. — audeat,  for  subj., 
cf  H.  501,  I. ;  B.  &  M.  1218,  1227;  A.  &  G.  320  a.— iste,  cf  1,  4, 
N.  ista. — taceat,  for  subj.  with  licet.,  cf  2,  3,  n. — paulatim  frigore 
inducto,  i.  e.  from  his  extremities  upwards ;  cf  the  Phaedo  of 
Plato  at  its  close. — 11,  Quanto  .  .  .  est,  etc.,  how  much  is  he  to 
be  envied,  etc.— illis,  sc.  invidendum  est. — gemma,  vessels  and 
drinking-cups  ornamented  with  precious  stones  and  gold  were 
quite  frequent.  Cf  Becker’s  “  Gallus,”  p.  29 ;  Guhl  &  Koner’s 
“The  Life  of  the  Greeks  and  Romans,”  p.  451 ;  De  Benef.  vii.  9, 
3. — ministratur,  inipers.  In  earlier  Latin  the  pers.  construction 
would  be  preferred,  qui  ministrantur. — quibns,  dat.,  cf  De  Brev. 
Vit.  17,  1,  IS.  fortunae.  —  exoletus,  said  of  beautiful,  full-grown 
youths  devoted  to  that  shocking  form  of  prostitution  alluded  to 
by  St.  Paul,  Rom.  i.  27.  Cf.  Martial,  Epig.  iii.  82,  5,  etc.  Plautus 
uses  the  term-  scortum  exoletum,  a  male  prostitute. — auro  =  aureo 
poculo  by  metonymy,  a  golden  cup. — nivem  diluit,snowis  here  said 
to  be  mixed  with  wine,  instead  of  (as  in  English)  wine  with  snow. 


DE  PKOVIDENTIA.  III.  11-IV,  3. 


209 


Cf.  Epist.  78,  23  :  “  O  unhax^py  rich  man  !  Wherefore  ?  Because 
he  mixes  not  snow  with  his  wine.” — vomitu,  referring  to  the  dis¬ 
gusting  practice  of  eating  and  drinking  to  excess,  then  vomiting, 
and  then  beginning  again  their  gluttony. — Quod  ad  Catonem 
pertinet,  as  touching  Cato;  literally,  that  which  pertains  to  Cato. — 
rerum  natura,  i.  e.  the  deus  of  the  Stoics ;  cf.  Zeller’s  “  Stoics, 
Epicureans,  and  Sceptics,”  pp.  147-149. — collideret,  subj.  of  pur¬ 
pose,  H.  497 ;  B.  &  M.  1212. 

12.  Inimicitiae,  etc.  These  words,  to  the  end  of  the  section, 
are  supposed  to  be  uttered  by  natura.,  i.  e.  deus  (as  above). — 
Yatinio:  P.  Vatinius,  a  leading  tool  of  the  triumvirate  in  the 
party  strifes  of  the  last  days  of  the  republic.  Possessed  of  no 
principle,  he  sold  his  services  to  Caesar,  when  he  was  tribune  of 
the  people,  b.c.  59.  Six  years  later,  through  the  combined  influ¬ 
ence  of  the  triumvirs,  he  was  chosen  praetor  instead  of  Cato.  In 
jjersonal  appearance  he  was  forbidding  and  repulsive,  and  Cicero, 
alluding  to  this  fact,  called  him  struma  ciritatis.  Cf.  Class.  Diet. 

sibi  maiius  adferre?  cf.  2,  9,  n.  on  suicide  of  Cato. — conse- 
quar  ?  what  shall  I  (deus)  effect  ly  these  things  ? — quibus,  depend¬ 
ent  on  dignum  ;  cf.  H.  421,  iii. ;  B.  &  M.  919.  , 

lY. — 1.  vilia  ingeaia,  mean  abilities  or  low  station.,  such  as  are 
not  worthy  of  trials,  which  belong  only  to  the  great,  according 
to  Seneca. — calamitates,  cf.Virg.  Oeorg.  ii.  491,  2. — morsu  animi, 
Tcxation  of  mind.  —  ignorare  est,  Z.  597.  —  rerum  .  .  .  partem, 
another  part  of  nature,  i.  e.  the  other  side  of  human  life,  viz.  suf¬ 
fering.  It  is  intimated  that  nature  consists  of  diversities— joys, 
sorrows,  etc. — 2.  Olyinjiia,  the  Olympic  games,  the  greatest  na¬ 
tional  festival  of  the  Greeks,  celebrated  at  Olympia  in  Elis.  Vid. 
Class.  Diet. — sed  nemo  praeter  te,  a  good  illustration  of  Seneca’s 
conciseness  of  style ;  cf.  3,  9,  refee  {tu)  ilium  et  mitte,  instead  of, 
si  reficias  ilium  et  si  mittas,  etc. — coronam,  the  olive  wreath,  the 
juize  in  the  Olympic  games. — una.  Lips,  proposes  rivam. — osten- 
deret,  subj.  in  relative  clause ;  cf.  3, 11,  n.  collideret. 

3.  Miserum  .  .  .  miser;  cf.  3,  3,  and  n.  on  Demetrius  and  his 
saying. — potueris,  sc.  facere. — lie  tu  quidem  ijise,  sc.  scies  quid 
potueris,  you  will  not  even  hnow  yourself,  etc.  Ipse  is  attached  to 
the  nom.  when  it  is  intended  to  exjiress  what  the  subject  itself 


210 


NOTES. 


does,  but  it  is  attached  to  the  pers.  or  reflex  pron.  when  it  is  in¬ 
dicated  that  the  action  is  exerted  upon  the  subject,  and  not  on 
other  persons.  Cf.  M,  489,  obs.  2  b ;  Arnold’s  Latin  Prose  Comp. 
368  b.— ^ad.  notitiam  :  observe  the  exceptional  use  of  ad  with  a 
noun  to  express  purpose,  a  usage  not  allowed  in  earlier  Latin ; 
cf.  M,  242,  obs.  3. — quid  quisque  .  .  .  didicit,  freely,  no  man  has 
ever  learned  his  own  'powers  except  l)y  trial. — nisi,  often  joined  to 
negatives  in  sense  of  l)ut  or  except.,  M.  442,  obs,  2. — virtuti :  ob¬ 
serve  prolepsis  in  position  and  construction  of  this  word. 

4.  Gaudent,  etc.  Lips,  quotes  from  Stobaeus'  the  words  of 
Diogenes  the  Cynic,  who,  having  fallen  into  certain  troubles,  ex¬ 
claimed,  “Well  done,  O  Fortune!  thou  hast  treated  me  like  a 
man,”  and  he  sang  and  rejoiced,  —  iuquam.  Seneca  quite  fre¬ 
quently  introduces  this  word  to  give  additional  force  to  an  asser¬ 
tion  ;  cf  E'pist.  90,  27. — milites  bellis  triiiiiipliant,  Haase  reads, 
milites  Itellis :  Triumphum.,  connecting  the  last  word  with  the  fol¬ 
lowing  sentence ;  it  is  then  a  proper  name, — murmillonem  .  .  . 
querentem.  Lips,  gives,  from  the  dissertations  on  Epictetus,  bk,  i., 
a  statement  that  there  were  some  among  the  gladiators  of  Caesar 
^vho  were  incensed  because  they  were  never  matched  with  foes 
equal  to  them. — Avida  =  audax.,  Lips. — meliori  casu,  some  prefer 
causa.,  but  it  may  be  explained  clementiore  fortuna.,  to  which  it  is 
due  that  the  wounds  are  not  deadly;  ctNirg.  Aeneid,  xii.  179, 
296. — licet,  although.,  rarely  used  by  good  writers  as  a  conjunc,, 
but  more  frequently  with  its  verbal  permissive  sense;  cf.  M.  361, 
obs.  1 ;  also  2,  3,  n. 

5.  Ipsis  .  .  .  consulit,  cf  Z.  414. — iuquam,  cf  n.  above,  §  4, — 

quam,  with  super!,,  cf  B,  &  M.  1003. — ad  quam  rem,/(9r  the  ac¬ 
complishment  of  which;  cf  §  3,  N.  ad  notitiam. — si  divitiis  diffiuis  ? 
This  was  a  nice  question  for  Seneca  himself,  who  was  enormously 
rich.  See  Introduction,  p.  21 ;  Be  Vit.  Beat.  17, 1,  n.  ;  21,3,  n. — 
Unde  possum  scire,  quantum,  etc,  H,  C.  Michaelis  characterizes 
the  repetition,  possum  scire.,  as  unworthy  of  Seneca’s  vigor  and 
elegance  of  style ;  he  thinks  the  repeated  words  should  be  omit¬ 
ted.  Qt  Be  Benef.  iv.  6,  3.  —  populare=^(?j9w?«nww,  associates, 
compatriots,' etc.  —  is  accustomed  to  follow.  —  6.  si  .  .  . 

vides?  if  you  always  see  those  whom  you  have  begotten;  cf  Diet. 
Antiq.  on  this  subject.— quis,  for  aliquis;  cf  Z.  708. — tranquilli- 


DE  PKOVIDENTIA.  IV.  7-10. 


211 


tas  iners  =  malacia^  a  dead  calm^  in  allusion  to  tlie  detention  of 
a  ship  by  a  calm. 

7.  iiiciderit,  fut.  perf. — grave  est,  etc.  Lips,  reads,  grave  est 
tenerae  cervici  iugum;  and  Pincian,  estferre  teneris  cervicU)us 
iugum. — venturis  malis,  evils  yet  to  come. — sua,  one’s  own.—^,  di- 
latus  est,  is  deferred.,  a  reference  to  the  postponement  of  gladia¬ 
torial  shows,  or  the  appearance  of  a  particular  gladiator,  not  a 
release  or  dismissal  from  service. — aut  liictu  ;  Fickert  omits  these 
words,  which,  on  the  whole,  we  have  thought  best,  with  Haase, 
to  retain. — qui  .  .  .  adgrediaiitur  .  .  .  explorent  .  .  .  deiciaiit, 
why  subj.?  cf.  3,  11,  n.  collideret. — —  dejiciant ;  cf.  2,  9, 

N.  inicitur. — quia  .  .  .  imperautur :  some  read  guare  for  quia., 
making  the  sentence  interrogative. — Male  .  .  .  meruit,  the  gen¬ 
eral  has  not  treated  me  permadescunt,  cf.  Epist.  20, 11 ;  also 
Plautus  {Mostellaria,  i.  2,  63),  who  uses  the  same  figure  in  refer¬ 
ence  to  love. — nisi  aliquid  intervenit  quod  .  .  .  admoneat,  un¬ 
less  something  happen  to  admonish  of  the  human  condition,  i.  e.  the 
state  of  human  life. 

9.  Quern,  relat.  to  hunc,  below. — specularia,  cf.  Epist.  86,  11 ; 
Juv.  8at.  iv.  20. — parietibus  circumfusus :  a  reference  to  hot-air 
pipes  encased  in  the  walls,  by  means  of  which  heat  was  conveyed 
through  the  houses.  In  Seneca’s  time  the  use  of  hot-air  or  vapor 
baths  was  also  quite  frequent.  Cf.  Baliieae,  Diet.  Antiq. ;  also 
Epist.  86,  where  Seneca  pours  out  his  indignant  contempt  upon 
the  luxury  of  the  times. — excesserunt  modum :  observe  use  of 
the  perf.  to  denote  what  is  always  true.  In  such  cases  the  action  ' 
of  the  subordinate  is  generally  supposed  to  be  antecedent  to  that 
of  the  principal  sentence;  cf.  M.  335  b,  obs.  1.  —  felicitatis  in- 
temperantia,  unlimited  prosperity. 

10.  advocata  virtute :  Lips,  and  others  read,  quae  advocat  ad 
virtutem. — Lenior  ieiunio  mors  est :  a  disputed  passage.  Lips, 
would  insert  e  before  ieiunio,  and  prefers  levior  to  lenior.  He 
holds  that  the  meaning  is,  that  death  is  rendered  comparatively 
easy  after  long  fasting  and  abstinence,  such  as  Atticus  and  oth¬ 
ers  practised.  In  our  text  ieiunio  is  an  ablat.  of  means. — cru- 
ditate  dissiliunt:  reference  seems  to  be  to  the  latter  part  of 
the  comparison  above,  infnitis  .  .  .  rumpi:  dissiliunt,  post- 
Aug.,  sc.  aegri,  or  dyspeptics; — Numquid,  cf.  M.  451  b  ;  H.  351. — 


212 


NOTES. 


patres  adliortantur,  etc.  Tertiillian  {Ad  Martyras^  3)  bears  wit¬ 
ness  to  this  fact  even  in  his  day. — ut  .  .  .  perferaut  .  .  .  perse - 
verent :  on  the  use  of  ut  with  subj.,  or  of  the  infin.,  cf.  Z.  615, 616  ; 
M.  389.  —  voliiera  praebere  Tolneribus,  to  receive  wounds  upon 
wounds^  i.  e.  to  offer  for  new  wounds  the  already  lacerated  flesh. 
The  Spartan  boys  were  taken  to  the  altar  of  Artemis  Orthia  to 
receive  the  customary  dLayaariyuxng,  or  severe  flogging,  which 
w'as  so  terrible  at  times  as  to  draw  much  blood,  and  even  cause 
death  ;  cf.  Cic.  Tusc.  Disp.  ii.  14. 

11,  patimui';  Haase  and  others  read  patiamur. — Solidissima 
corporis  pars,  etc.  So  the  proverb  of  Hippocrates,  Kivrjmg  ydp 
Kparvvei,  dpyirj  de  rpKu. — Praebendi :  on  the  gerundive  with  sum^ 
cf  M.  420. — facial,  v.  1.  faciet. — contemptum,  post-Aug. ;  cf  Be 
Tranq.  11,  4.— ad  excatienda  tela:  it  is  said  that  the  ancient 
veterans  acquired  such  skill  as  to  hurl  their  weapons  with  a  force 
and  to  a  distance  almost  incredible. — quoque  :  difference  be¬ 
tween  quoque  and  quSque?  cf  M.  495,  471 ;  Z.  355. — 12.  Ro- 
Niana  pax  =  Roman  empire. — Istrum,  or  the  lower  part  of  the 
Danube. — gentmin,  i.  e.  the  nations  beyond  the  rule  and  limits 
of  the  empire. — Pcrpetua  liiems,  etc.,  a  view  far  from  correct  as 
to  the  Germans,  but  nearer  the  truth  in  respect  to  the  remote 
Scythians;  vid.  Tacitus,  Oerrnania.—iivlme)^  vid.  Lexicon,  under 
columen. — in  alimentam :  observe  use  of  in  to  express  purpose. 

13.  Nulla  iUis  domicilia:  the  Germans  indeed  had  no  flxed 
residences  or  towns ;  nevertheless  they  possessed  homes,  though 
they  exchanged  lands  yearly,  as  Caesar  states  concerning  the  Suevi 
{Bell.  Oall.  iv.  1) ;  cf  also  Tacitus,  Germania. — in  diem,  referring 
to  the  Sarmatians,  etc. — et  liic,  used  similarly  to  et  is,  for  more 
precise  and  emphatic  definition,  M.  484  c. — intecta  corpora : 
Caesar  says  that  the  Germans  used  skins  for  clothing,  but  that 
the  greater  part  of  the  body  was  naked ;  cf.  Tac.  Germania,  17. — 
14.  nisi :  after  a  negative  proposition,  nisi  introduces  an  excep¬ 
tion  ;  cf  M.  442,  obs.  3 ;  also  n.  §  3. 

Y. — 1.  Adice  nnnc,  quod:  this  is  the  usual  formula  of  Seneca 
when  he  begins  a  new  argument ;  cf.  Be  Const.  Sap.  9,  2  ;  Be  Otio 
Sap.  32, 17  ;  Be  Vit.  Beat.  7, 1 ;  adice  =  adjice,  cf  2,  9,  N. — optimum 
quemque,  all  the  best.  The  sing,  of  quisque  with  superb  is  gener- 


DE  PKOVIDENTIA.  V.  1-3. 


213 


ally  used  for  plur.  when  the  noun  is  not  expressed ;  cf.  M.  495. — 
ut  ita  dicam,  so  to  speak  or  say. — militare,.  56  soldiers.  —  edere 
operas,  do  service;  cf.  2,  7;  Epist.  29,  6.  Good  men  perform  good 
service  for  others  by  endurance  of  affliction. — tribuerit  .  .  .  in- 
rogaverit :  these  words  are  in  contrast  in  meaning ;  the  former 
signifies,  to  bestow  some  good ;  the  latter,  to  impose  or  inflict 
some  evil. — Appiiis :  Appius  Claudius,  surnamed  Caecus,  because 
he  became  blind  in  his  old  age,  w'as  censor  b.c.  312.  The  most 
enduring  monuments  of  his  censorship  were  the  Appian  Way  to 
Capua,  and  the  Appian  Aqueduct.  By  his  earnest  eloquence  he 
persuaded  the  senate  to  refuse  the  terms  of  peace  offered  by  Pyr¬ 
rhus  ;  vid.  Livy,  ix.  29  ;  Cic.  De  Senec.  6. — Metellus :  L.  Metellus 
Pontifex,  twice  consul,  dictator  b.c.  205,  and  active  in  the  war 
with  Hannibal.  He  lost  his  eyes  at  the  burning  of  the  temple 
of  Vesta ;  cf.  De  Brev.  Vit.  14,  2  ;  Pliny,  Nat.  Hist.  vii.  45. 

2.  Elius,  some  vile  character,  of  whom  there  is  no  mention 
elsewhere.  —  cum  in  templis  consecraveriiit :  Seneca  also  says, 
pecunia  in  templis  sacrata.,  not  as  a  divinity  probably,  but  as  a 
votive  offering  of  gold  and  silver.  Images  also  of  gods  and  god¬ 
desses,  made  of  precious  metals,  were  consecrated  in  temples. 
Augustine  holds  that  pecunia  was  a  goddess  {De  Givitate  Dei.,  iv. 
21, 5).  —  traducere,  to  expose  to  contempt  and  ridicule. — At  iuiquum : 
an  objector  is  supposed  to  complain  of  the  injustice  of  the  pros- 
l)erity  of  evil  men  and  the  afflictions  of  good  men. — coustriiigi. 
Lips,  prefers  configi,  on  the  ground  that  adligari  immediately  fol¬ 
lowing  is  similar  to  constringi. — 3.  Quid  porro  ?  What  then? — 
fortes  viros  .  .  .  volneribus :  for  severity  of  Roman  military  life, 
see  Diet.  Antiq.  and  4, 4,  n. — praecisos  =  lascivious.  In  post- Aug. 
writers  praecisus  usually  means  castrated;  some  read  percisos, 
which  refers  to  a  horrible  pollution  among  the  heathen.— nobilis- 
simas  virgiues  =  restates.  —  cousulitur,  is  in  council.  —  campo  = 
Campus  Martins. — iu  Iiac  magiia  repub lica,  in  this  great  repuMic 
of  humanity,  or  the  world  at  largo. — inpendunt:  operam,  curas, 
ingen  ium,  inpendunt ;  so  Cic.  in  Verr.  ii.  30,  68.  —  inpenduiitiir, 
i.  c.  the  good  not  only  devote  their  all  to  others,  but  suffer  them¬ 
selves,  and  are  even  destroyed ;  cf  Cons,  ad  Helv.  16, 17 ;  also  Ter- 
tullian,  Apol.  44,  concerning  the  slaughter  of  the  Christians  under 
tlie  sanction  of  the  state. 


K 


214 


NOTES. 


4.  Haiic  .  .  .  vocem,  this  speech. — Demetrii,  probably  Deme¬ 
trius  of  Sunium ;  cf.  3,  3,  n, — totum,  i.  e,  totum  corporis. — uullam 
laoram  faciam,  etc.,  I  will  not  delay  you  at  all  from  receiving  hach 
what  you  have  given. — maluissem  offerre  qiiam  tradere :  a  clear 
intimation  of  Stoic  teaching  concerning  suicide,  followingwhicb  is 
tlie  paradoxical  doctrine  about  destiny. — opus  fuit :  with  opus  est 
the  thing  needed  may  be  an  intin.,  or  an  accus.  with  infin. ;  H.  421, 
notes  1  &  2;  B.  &  M.  927. — accipere  potuistis,i.  e.  by  commanding  it. 
— retineiiti,  v.  1.  renitenti. — dicta  lege,  hy  a  fixed  law.,  i.  e.  of  fate. 
— 5.  priiiia  iiascentium  liora  disposuit:  cf.  the  sentiment  of  Ma- 
nilian,  nascentes  morimur,f  nisque  ah  origine  pendet. — yeniunt,  i.  e. 
events  are  not  merely  the  result  of  chance,  but  take  place  in  ac¬ 
cordance  with  an  immutable  decree. — 6.  ad  hoc  parati  sumus, 
for  this  we  were  destined.  Michaelis  suggests  parati  simus,  as 
more  suitable  to  the  context,  and  the  question,  quid  itaque  f  pa¬ 
rati,  will  then  have  the  ordinary  meaning,  prepared  or  ready. — • 
(|iiicquid  est  quod,,  etc.  The  following  thought  contains  the 
substance  of  the  Stoic  paradox,  in  which  the  First  Cause  is  repre¬ 
sented  as  subject  to  secondary  causes.  Seneca’s  teaching  in  other 
places  quite  closely  resembles  Christian  doctrine  on  this  point. — 
scripsit :  in  accordance  with  the  fancy  that  Jupiter  dictated  his 
decrees  to  the  fetes  for  them  to  record. 

7.  Non  potest  .  .  .  materiain  :  it  was  a  Stoic  dogma  that  the 

origin  of  evils  is  in  matter  itself;  cf.  Lips,  in  his  “Physiol.  Stoic.” 
i.  Dissert.  14,  where  he  treats  of  this  subject  at  large ;  also  Zeller’s 
“  Stoics,  Epicureans,  and  Sceptics,”  p.  181,  note. — artifex,  i.  e.  the 
Stoic  deus  or  ratio.- — liaec  passa  est :  cf.  on  this  teaching  of  the 
Stoics,  Epist.  65,  2 ;  Nat.  Quaest.  i.  {qrrolog.)  2,  3 ;  Diog.  Laert.  vii. 
134:  haec,  Haase  reads  hoc. — elemeiitis,  cf.  Be  Ira,  ii.  18, 19. — ut 
efficiatur  .  .  .  diceudus,  to  produce  a  man  who  must  he  mentioned 
with  consideration. — fortiore  fato  oi)us  est :  antithetic  to  the 
thought  above,  languida  .  .  .  inertibus,  etc.  To  make  the  an¬ 
tithesis  complete,  the  fortius  fatum  must  be  regarded  as  belong¬ 
ing  to  acrioribus  elementis,  or  as  arising  from  them ;  Lips. — eat, 
subj.  after  without  ut ;  when  used  to  signify  duty,  opoi'tet 

always  has  accus.  with  infin. ;  M.  373,  obs.  1. 

8.  quae,  antecedent  ea,  understood  =  feZia.  —  illi,  i.  e.  virtus ; 
dat.with  gerundive,  H.  388 ;  B.&M.1310. — Ardua  prima  via  est, 


DE  PKOVIDENTIA.  V.  8,  9. 


215 


etc.  This  comparison  respecting  the  difficult  course  of  virtue  is 
drawn  from  Ovid,  Metamorph.  ii.  63,  etc.  Sol  is  endeavoring  to 
dissuade  the  impetuous  Phaethon  from  his  desire  to  drive  the 
chariot  of  tire  sun,  hy  depicting  the  dangers  and  difficulties  of 
the  undertaking.  We  give  the  passage  in  verse  by  Dr.  Lodge, 
of  London  (translator  of  Seneca’s  Works,  1614),  rather  for  its 
novelty  than  accuracy  or  poetic  merit ; 

“The  flrst  which  with  unwearied  steed?  I  clime, 

Is  such  a  iourney,  that  their  ceaseless  toyle 
Cau  scarcely  reach  before  the  moVrowes  prime; 

The  next  is  highest  heau’ii,  from  whence  the  soyle 
And  spacious  seas,  I  see  with  dreadfull  eye 
Aud  fearefull  heart ;  the  next  whereto  I  hie. 

Is  steep  and  prone,  and  cranes  a  cunning  guide; 

And  then  doth  Thetis  shake  herselfe  for  dread. 

Lest  headlong  I  should  fall  aud  downward  glide, 

Aud  burie  in  her  Avaues  my  golden  head.” 

• — receiites,/re6-^,  because  of  rest  during  the  night. — Eiiituntur, 
labor  up. — pavida,  the  effect  which  fm^mido  produces. — mode- 
rainine  certo,  steady  guidance. — Tetliys,  put  for  the  sea.  She 
was  the  wife  of  Oceanus  and  mother  of  the  Oceanides.  The  sea 
seems  to  receive  the  sun  when  setting,  and  the  sun  seems  to 
emerge  from  it  when  rising ;  hence  the  poet  says,  Tethys  received 
Sol  in  the  evening,  and  opened  the  gates  for  him  in  the  morning. 

9.  Haec  cum  .  .  .  casuro :  these  are  Seneca’s  words,  not  the 
poet’s ;  so,  after  the  next  quotation,  the  interpretation  and  use 
made  of  the  lines  are  from  Seneca. — casuro,  concessive,  though 
about  to  fall^  i.  e.  though  I  may  or  shall  fall,  I  care  not,  provided 
I  may  go  over  such  a  course. — esceiido,  cf.  1,  6,  n. — Utque  viam, 
etc. :  we  quote  Dr.  Lodge  again  : 

“And  that  thou  mayst  continue  in  the  way, 

Be  carefull  lest  thy  posting  Steeds  doe  stray; 

Yet  shalt  thou  passe  by  Taurus,  who  will  bend 
His  homes  to  crosse  thee,  whither  thou  dost  tend; 

Th’  Aeuomian  Archer  aud  the  Lion  fell 

Shall  stay  thy  coarse  aud  fright  thee  where  they  dwell.” 

— Utque,  although. — advcrsi,  opposite. — tauri,  a  sign  of  the  zodiac. 
Ovid  generally  prefers  vacca  to  taurus. — violeuti,  so  used  because 
the  sun,  on  entering  the  constellation  is  more  violent  in  its 
heat. — liumilis  et  iiiertis  est,  etc.,  it  is  the  part  of  an  ignoble  and 
xceah  mind.,  etc. 


216 


NOTES. 


VI. — 1.  Qu.are  tamen,  etc. ;  still,  the  question  comes  up  again, 
why  does  the  deity  ?  etc.  Seneca  now  takes  the  ground  that  there 
are  no  evils  but  vices ;  hence  it  follows  that  the  virtuous  do  not 
suffer  evils,  since  that  name  does  not  properly  belong  to  afflic¬ 
tions  and  the  like. — Omnia  mala,  i.  e.  enils  such  as  he  would  call 
Q'eal,  like  crimes,  wicked  thoughts,  and  others  which  he  proceeds 
to  enumerate.. —  avida  consilia,  cf.  De  Brev.  Vit.  3,  3.  lieference 
here  is  undoubtedly  to  ambition,  and  other  like  desires,  since 
amritia  follows  so  closely. — ut  .  .  .  seryet  ?  that  he  should  also 
give  heed  to  the  l)urden  of  good  men,  i.  e.  their  external  condition, 
whether  wealth  and  honors,  or  troubles,  griefs,  and  cares.  Seneca 
certainly  had  not  yet  fully  grasped  the  Christian  idea. — sarciiias, 
the  baggage  which  the  camp  slave,  calo,  bore.  He  asks,  should 
god  be  made  to  do  the  work  of  a  slave? — Democritus  .  .  .  pro- 
jecit  :  the  celebrated  Eleatic  philosopher  of  Abdera  (flor.  b.c. 
4G0)  inherited  from  his  father  a  large  property  (100  talents,  or 
more  than  $100,000),  and  assigned  it  to  his  brother;  Lips.  But 
the  truth  probably  is  that  he  expended  it  in  extensive  travel  and 
study,  as  he  died  in  great  poverty. — miraris  si,  cf.  A.  &  G.  199  c. 

2.  occidant?  sc.  as  Brutus,  Manlius  Torquatus,  and  oth¬ 
ers;  some  read,  et  ipsi  occidant. — repetituri,  fut.  part,  expressing 
intention,  H.  549,  3;  B.  &  M.  1355;  A.  &  G.  333  r. — cum  .  .  . 
adferaut?  the  Stoic  assumption  repeated,  that  a  good  man  may 
commit  suicide;  cf.  2,  8,  n.  at  the  end. — in  exemplar:  observe 
use  of  in  with  accus.  to  denote  end  or  purpose.— 3.  Quid  liahetis 
quod,  etc.,  ichat  cause  have  you  to  complain  ?  etc. ;  cf.  Z.  562. — 
possitis,  emphatic  position. — Isti  .  .  .  adspicitis,  those  whom  you 
admire  for  their  felicity  ;  some  render,  those  whom  you  look  upon 
as  fortunate. — ad  similitudinem  .  .  .  culti,  after  the  similitude 
of  their  own  walls  adorned  on  the  outside.  Comjjare  our  Lord’s 
denunciation  of  the  Pharisees:  “Woe  unto  you,  scribes  and  Phari¬ 
sees,  hypocrites !  for  ye  make  clean  the  outside  of  the  cup  and 
of  the  platter,  but  within  they  are  full  of  extortion  and  excess.” 
.  .  .  “Ye  are  like  unto  whited  sepulchres,  which  indeed  appear 
beautiful  outward,  but  are  within  fuJl  of  dead  men’s  bones,  and 
of  all  uncleanness  ”  (Matt,  xxiii.  25,  27). — crusta,  the  inlaid  work 
on  walls,  as  of  variegated  marble. 

4.  ad  arbitrium  osteudi,  i.  e.  only  so  much  of  their  real  char- 


DE  PROVIDENTIA.  VI.  4-8. 


217 


acter  can  be  exposed  as  they  will,  or  they  can  appear  to  men  as 
they  themselves  will. — alienus  splendor  absconderit,  for  subj., 
cf.  H.  529, 1. ;  B.  &  M.  1182 ;  A.  &  G.  334. — mellora  inaioraqiie : 
supply  mdebuntur^  and  tanto,  correlative  of  quanto. — Permisi  .  .  . 
contemner e :  later  writers  and  poets,  after  permitto  with  the  dat., 
also  have  an  infin.  Earlier  writers  always  used  ut  with  subj. ; 
]M.  396,  obs.  1. — introrsus,  opposed  to  extrinsecus ;  cf.  De  Tranq. 
10. — nmndus,  cf.  Ueberweg’s  “Hist,  of  Philosophy,”  i.  194 :  “  Since 
the  world,  as  a  whole,  ...  is  deity,”  etc. — exteriora,  uhi  vacuum 
infinitum  (Lips.),  where  all  is  emptiness  and  void. 

5.  toleratu,  on  supine  irr  w,  cf.  M.  412. — Quia  non  poteram, 
etc.  Again  the  deity  is  made  subject  to  secondary  causes ;  cf.  5, 
6,  N.— deuin  antecedatis :  Lips,  charges  Seneca  with  either  folly 
or  presumption ;  and,  looked  at  from  the  Christian  standpoint, 
such  language  is  the  height  of  arrogance  and  folly.  The  usual 
Stoic  doctrine  was  that  their  model  wise  man  “is  king  and  lord, 
and  is  inferior  in  inner  worth  to  no  other  rational  being,  not  even 
to  Zeus  himself”  (Ueberweg,  i.  198).  Seneca  here,  however,  seems 
plainly  to  go  much  farther;  cf.  De  Tranq.  7,  2,  n. — solvet,  sc.  vos 
or  nos. —  flnit,  i.  e.  on  the  supposition  that  the  soul  j^erishes.  The 
alternative  is  expressed  by  transfert. — feriret,  subj.  of  purpose, 
M.  355. 

6.  patet  exitus :  the  power  of  death  is  placed  in  the  hands 
of  man — an  intimation,  thought  the  Stoics,  tliat  it  was  honorable 
and  praiseworthy  to  take  one’s  own  life,  under  circumstances  of 
great  trial,  rather  than  submit  to  dishonor  and  disgrace.  Cato 
at  Utica  was  their  favorite  illustration  and  exemplar.  In  this 
way  was  ignored  entirely  the  momentous  truth  that  God  alone  is 
the  dispenser  of  life  and  death. — Prono  .  .  .  loco  =  a  declivity ; 
why  is  prep,  omitted  before  local  cf.  H.  425,  ii.  2  ;  M.  273  b. — tra- 
liitur :  Lips,  conjectures  traditur.,  as  more  consistent,  since  life  is 
voluntarily  surrendered. — libertatem,  cf.  De  Ira^  iii.  15,  4.— in- 
traiitibus,  i.  e.  in  lucem.^  in  vitam. 

7.  quam  .  .  .  inpingere,  i.  e.  direct  against  her  her  own  gift, 
as  when  we  throw  away  life. — mortem  coiidiscite,  learn  death 
well.,  learn  how  to  die  at  any  moment. — com.missura,  the  joint  or 
Icnot. — 8.  in  proximo,  close  at  hand.,  next  door. — mori :  on  this  use 
of  infill.,  cf.  Z.  597,  598. — quam :  the  latter  term  or  part  of  the 


218 


NOTES. 


comparison  is  omitted  ;  it  may  be  rendered  thus,  than  is  requisite 
in  order  that  so  great  swiftness  may  he  'pereeired. — haustus  ignis: 
Portia,  the  wife  of  Brutus,  who  joined  in  killing  Julius  Caesar,  is 
said  to  have  destroyed  herself  by  swallowing  live  coals  when  she 
had  learned  of  her  husband’s  death  at  Philippi.  It  is  quite  pos¬ 
sible  that  she  inhaled  carbonic -acid  gas  from  a  charcoal  fire,  a 
favorite  and  frequent  means  of  self-destruction  among  the  Ro¬ 
mans.  The  allusion  in  the  text  may  be  to  this.  Cf.  Plutarch’s 
Cato  and  Brutus, 


DE  TRANQUILLITATE  ANIMI. 

Argumentum. — I.  Serenus  is  represented  as  addressing  a  letter  to 
Seneca,  in  which  he  sets  forth  that  he  is  in  an  unquiet,  morose,  and 
vacillating  condition  of  mind.  He  states  (somewhat  confusedly,  as 
Lips,  thinks)  why  he  is  in  this  trouble  of  mind :  he  points  out  that  he 
is  disquieted  and  uneasy  by  being  in  the  midst  of  luxury  and  splendor 
at  the  imperial  court;  and  he  avers  that. he  does  not  know  where  to 
look  for  repose — whether  in  the  enjoyment  of  wealth  or  the  practice  of 
frugality,  whether  in  public  life,  private  retirement,  study,  or  the  like. 
II.  Seneca  answers  Serenus.  He  endeavors  to  persuade  him  to  have  con¬ 
fidence  in  himself,  to  stand  firm,  and  to  acquire  for  himself  tranquillity 
of  mind.  Then  he  promises  to  point  out  how  it  can  be  reached,  the 
effect  and  origin  of  it  being  first  set  forth.  III.  Against  this  iaeMum 
(which  he  considers  a  disease)  he  counsels  Serenus  to  bear  in  mind  that 
one  of  the  best  remedies  is  activity  and  taking  a  share  in  public  affairs, 
at  least  the  mingling  ease  with  activity;  if  we  fall  upon  more  turbulent 
times,  we  must  not  refuse  this  duty;  Socrates  quoted,  as  an  illustration. 
IV.,  y.,  VI.  It  is  necessary  before  all  things  for  us,  entering  upon  busi¬ 
ness,  to  know  ourselves,  then  business,  then  men,  for  the  sake  of  or 
with  whom  we  are  to  act  or  labor.  Our  own  strength  is  to  be  duly  es¬ 
timated,  what  it  is,  and  how  far  we  may  go ;  then,  in  business  or  active 
life,  we  must  consider  whether  we  are  equal  to  the  work  to  be  done; 
and,  further,  whether  men  are  worthy  our  toil  and  expenditure  of  time. 
VII.,  VIII.  Moreover,  it  helps  to  tranquillity  of  mind  to  have  faithful 
and  pleasant  friendships;  morose,  sad-tempered,  and  fault-finding  friends 
are  to  be  shunned.  Other  things,  too,  hinder  our  gaining  ease  of  mind; 
such  as  our  patrimony,  which,  if  moderate,  suffices  for  virtue  and  quiet¬ 
ness  of  life — if  large,  hinders  both.  A  moderate  fortune  is  esteemed  the 
best.  IX.  True  riches  are  acquired  only  by  frugality  and  continence; 
therefore  luxury  is  to  be  resisted,  even  in  useful,  profitable  matters, 
such  as  a  library,  books,  etc.  X.  Then,  too,  trouble  is  to  be  put  up 
with,  lest  it  injure  tranquillity;  for  every  man  has  his  troubles,  which 
are  softened  and  overcome  by  labor  and  custom,  as  well  as  by  the  sight 
of  another’s  lot  worse  than  our  own.  Pleasures  are  detrimental  to 
every  kind  of  life,  and  desires,  ever  near  by  and  at  our  very  feet,  cannot 
be  banished.  XI.  Next  follows  a  discussion  of  equanimity  and  con¬ 
stancy  of  a  wise  man.  Such  a  one  despises  death,  or  regards  it  as  in¬ 
different.  Nothing  happens  or  can  happen  to  him  unaware ;  so  death 
does  not  come  unexpectedly;  neither  does  he  anticipate  the  evil  or  the 
good  in  the  future.  Examples  of  illustrious  and  good  men  given. 


220 


NOTES. 


XII.,  XIII.,  XIV.,  XV.  In  superfluous  matters  we  must  not  toil,  nor  be 
too  busy  in  other  people’s  concerns.  One  ready  to  do  much  must  con¬ 
sider  the  inconstancy  of  aflUirs,  and  avoid  levity,  etc.,  so  as  to  preserve 
tranquillity.  Hatred  of  the  human  race  is  to  be  cast  aside,  and  weari¬ 
someness  avoided.  The  vanities  of  men  are  not  to  be  laughed  at  or 
wept  over,  but  borne  with  equal  mind;  neither  are  we  to  be  sad  at  the 
loss  of  our  goods.  Pretence  and  anxious  watching  one’s  self  are  not  to 
be  indulged  in,  and  solitude  and  converse  with  others  are  to  be  pru¬ 
dently  mingled. 


Cap.  I. — 1.  mihi,  i.  e.  Annaeus  Serenus,  an  intimate  and  valued 
friend  of  Seneca’s.  He  was  praefectus  vigilum  under  Nero,  and 
died,  together  with  a  whole  company,  from  the  effects  of  eating 
poisonous  fungi.  Seneca  was  much  grieved  at  his  death.  Of. 
Epist.  63, 14 ;  Tacitus,  Ann.  xiii.  13 ;  Pliny,  Nat.  Hist.  xxii.  2,  3. — 
Seneca :  this  is  the  reading  now  generally  approved,  though 
some  hold  to  Serene.  Haase  reads  retecta  (prefixing  to  cap.  i. 
the  name  Serenus  in  brackets).  The  earliest  ms.  is  imperfect  in 
regard  to  this  word,  the  first  two  letters  only  being  legible.  It 
seems  most  reasonable  to  regard  the  author  writing  as  if  a  letter 
had  been  sent  to  him  by  Serenus,  in  which  tlie  latter  presents  his 
complaints,  arising  out  of  the  position  in  which  he  is  placed,  and 
asking  for  help  in  the  search  and  striving  after  ease  and  content¬ 
ment  of  mind.  Probably  this  treatise  was  written  by  Seneca  after 
his  being  recalled  from  exile,  through  Agrippina’s  influence,  and 
his  being  appointed  preceptor  to  her  son  Nero.  ^ 

inaiiu  prenderem  :  a  proverbial  expression,  used  of  things 
definite  or  plain ;  cf.  Be  Benef.  vi.  42,  1. — obscuriora  et  in  re- 
cessn,  antithesis  to  in  aperto  posita  ;  a  variety  of  construction  not 
unusual  in  Seneca,  as  also  in  Livy  and  Sallust,  but  more  rare  in 
Tacitus.  The  words  are  equivalent  to  a  little  more  in  the  back¬ 
ground.^  as  in  aperto  means  openly,  in  the  light  of  day. — ^vel,  exien, 
has  force  of  adverb,  and  enhances  the  sense  of  the  word  modified 
by  it;  Z.  734. — dixerim,  subj.  denoting  modest  affirmation;  M. 
350  b. — liostes  vagOS,  i.  e.  nomadic,  as  the  ancient  Numidians  and 
Scythians,  and  the  modern  Arab  tribes  which  roam  the  desert. — 
per  qnos :  when  a  man  is  the  instrument  by  which  anything  is 
effected,  the  abl.  is  rarely  used,  but  generally with  accus. ;  Z, 
455,  note. — per  quos  .  .  .  securum,  freely,  we  neither 


DE  TRANQUILLITATE  ANTMT.  I.  1-3. 


221 


to  be  always  on  my  guard  as  in  war^  um'  free  from  a'ppveliension  as 
in  peace:  secwrzm,  post- Aug.  in  this  sense.— licet,  refers  to  what 
is  allowed  by  human  laws  and  usages.  It  differs  from /as,  in  that 
this  latter  has  reference  to  what  is  permitted  by  divine  laws  and 
the  higher  moral  sense.  Cf  Doederlein,  Lat.  Synonyms,  p.  43. — 
ut,  as,  in  comparisons. — fatear,  for  subj.,  cf.  H.  484,  y.  ;  B.  &  M. 
1180 ;  A.  &  G.  268 ;  also,  Epist.  53,  8. — bona  fide  (sometimes  writ¬ 
ten  ex  fide  bona),  honestly,  entirely. — obnoxium,  subject  or  addicted 
to  the  ritia  he  is  speaking  of. 

2.  ut  .  .  .  ita:  in  comparisons  these  words  place  sentences  on 
an  equality,  but  this  equality  is  sometimes  limited  to  the  result 
to  which  both  sentences  lead ;  so  that  ut  .  .  .  ita=although  .  .  . 
yet ;  Z.  726. — Aon  est,  quod  dicas,  you  hare  no  reason  to  say :  for 
the  subj.,  cf  H.  503,  note  2 ;  B.  &  M.  1229 ;  Z.  562,  note. — in  speci- 
enq/cr  appearanee'  sake  ;  some  prefer  the  reading  inspem. — dico, 
I  wea?z=namely,  to  wit. — quicquid  .  .  .  venit,  whatever  depends 
upon  the  judgment  of  others. — tempore. — yeras  yires :  as 
virtue  and  all  qualities  that  are  sound  and  noble.— ad  placendnni, 
force  of  ad  with  acc.  gerund.  ?  H.  544,  notes;  B.  &  M.  1338. — ex- 
spectant=re5'azre  or  have  need  (/.—donee,  until,  takes  subj.  when 
a  thing  is  conceived  as  merely  possible,  or  if  purpose  is  implied  ; 
when  a  fact  is  expressed  the  indie,  is  used ;  Z.  575 ;  H.  519 ;  B. 
&  M.  1238, 1240. — —  acquires  ;  cf  Quintilian,  i.  2, 18;  Hor. 
Odes,  iii.  27, 76.— hoc  yitium,  i.  e.  of  a  wavering  and  unquiet  mind. 

3.  Tam  .  .  .  quam,  as  well  .  .  .as.  —  aniorem  induit :  some 
read  moram ;  this,  however,  would  destroy  the  parallelism  in¬ 
tended  between  this  and  the  preceding  thought.  Lips,  reads 
inducit  for  induit.  Cf.  Lucretius,  JDe  Her.  Nat.  iv.  1283,  consue¬ 
tude  concinnat  amorem.  —  Haec  aniini  .  .  .  ostendere,  I  cannot 
show  thee  so  well  at  once,  as  in  part,  ichat  this  infirmity  of  the 
mind  is,  which  vacillates  now  this  way,  now  that,  turning  resolutely 
neither  to  the  good  nor  to  the  bad. — utriimqne,  plur.  in  sense,  but 
when  only  two  persons  or  things  are  meant  rarely  put  in  the 
plur. — semel  =  in  full,  in  detail.— per  partes,  in  part,  partly,  ad¬ 
verbial  use,  Z.  258,  obs.  2 ;  cf  Tacitus,  Hist.  i.  54,  88 ;  v.  3 ;  Pliny, 
Epist.  W.f).  —  accidant,  an  indirect  question,  H.  529 ;  B.  &  M. 
1180. — parsimoniae :  when  used  in  plur.,  ante  and  post  classical. 
Here,  and  in  what  follows  on  this  subject,  Lips,  regards  Seneca 

K  2 


222 


NOTES. 


as  speaking  concerning  himself,  and  in  his  own  person.  He  was 
a  vegetarian  in  diet,  was  accustomed  to  lie  on  a  hard  mattress, 
and  daily  went  through  a  course  of  self-examination.  Cf.  E^nst. 
108, 17 ;  98,  13  :  De  Ira^  ii.  36  ;  iii.  36. — fateor,  followed  regularly 
by  accus.  with  inlin.  The  indie,  tenet  shows  that  the  two  sen¬ 
tences  are  really  distinct  declarations :  mry  great  love  of  par¬ 
simony  possesses  me^  I  confess  it.  Qi.Wvg.  Aen.  ii.  134, — in  amhi- 
tionein :  in  frequently  has  accus.  when  it  denotes  a  state  of  mind 
in  reference  to  something,  or  activity  in  a  certain  direction  and 
with  a  certain  object,  as  in  speciem.^  above ;  M.  230  a. — cuhile  con- 
positum,  a  high  couch,  spread  with  colored  purple  and  golden 
tapestry,  covered  with  emblems,  and  resting  on  golden,  ivory, 
and  silver  feet;  cf.  Juv.  Sat.  xi.  94.  During  the  later  period  of 
the  republic  and  the  earlier  years  of  the  empire,  when  Asiatic 
luxuries  were  imported  into  Italy,  the  richness  and  magnificence 
of  the  couches  of  wealthy  Komans  were  almost  beyond  descrip¬ 
tion.  The  blankets  or  counterpanes  {vestes  stragulae.,  stragula') 
were  of  very  costly  material,  and  generally  of  purple  color,  and 
embroidered  with  figures  in  gold.  Cf.  Pliny,  Nat.  Hist.  xvi.  43 ; 
Cic,  in  Verr.  iv.  12,  26  ;  Martial,  Epig.  ii.  16  ;  also.  Diet.  Anliq. — 
arcula :  this  was  a  chest  in  wdiich  fine  clothing  and  state  robes 
were  kept ;  it  was  also  used  as  a  press.  Lips,  says,  to  make  them 
glossy.  To  this  use  the  words  following  probably  refer,  ponderi- 
l)us  .  .  .  expressa. — domestica,  sc.  vestis.  It  refers  to  a  garment 
worn  in  the  house,  of  ordinary  material,  as  opposed  to  forensis 
vestis.,  out-door  and  official  garment  of  the  finest  quality.  C£  Cic. 
De  Fin.  ii.  24,  77 ;  Suetonius,  Aug.  73. — sumenda,  to  he  worn. 

4.  cibus,  cf.  §  3,  N.  parsimoniae^  etc.— faniiliae,  i.  e.  the  crowds 
or  numbers  of  slaves ;  cf.  8,  4,  n.  numerus. — nec  spectent,  v.  1.  ex- 
spectent.,  which  is  incompatible  with  the  author’s  meaning,  viz.  to 
express  the  eager  manner  with  which  servants  regard  the  rich 
food  served  up  by  them.  —  nihil  haheiis  .  .  .  pretiosive,  i.  e. 
being  neither  scanty  nor  costly ;  arcessiti  denotes  that  which  is 
much  sought  for,  viz.  because  of  its  scarcity.  It  often  has  the 
iovee  far-fetched.,  indicating  wdiat  is  unnatural,  as  opposed  to  that 
which  comes  of  itself,  and  hence  is  natural.  Cf.  Quint,  x.  1,  8 ; 
Cic.  De  Or  at.  ii.  63. — rediturus :  with  reference  to  the  disgusting; 
practice  here  referred  to,  cf.  De  Prov.  3, 11,  n.  — intraverit,  v.  1. 


DE  TRANQUILLITATE  ANIMI.  I.  4,  5. 


223 


intraverat :  indirect  question  requires  subj.  —  vernula  :  cf.  De 
Prov.  1,  5,  N.  —  argentum  .  .  .  patris,  i.  e.  the  silver  that  his 
(Seneca’s)  father  used  in  the  country,  viz.  at  Corduba  in  Spain, 
where  he  was  born;  vid. Introduction, p.  11. — iiieusa  .  .  .  con- 
spicua:  wealthy  and  distinguished  Romans  were  very  particular 
about  the  material  of  their  tables.  The  most  beautiful  and  rare 
kinds  of  woods  were  used,  especially  the  fragrant  African  citrus. 
Pliny  relates  {Nat.  Hist.  xiii.  29)  that  Cicero  bought  a  table  of 
this  kind  for  1,000,000  sesterces  (about  $30,000),  and  that  others 
were  sold  for  twice  and  three  times  as  many  thousands  of  dollars. 
The  legs  were  made  of  ivory,  and  carved  to  imitate  the  heads  of 
various  animals,  as  lions,  tigers,  etc.  Cf.  De  Benef.  vii.  9 ;  Hor. 
Sat.  i.  6, 116. — in  usum  posita,  made  for  my  use. — moretur,  delays.^ 
i.  e.  by  attracting  attention ;  hence,  captivates. 

5.  paedagogii;  the  paedagogus  was  originally  a  trustworthy 
slave,  who  attended  upon  children  to  and  from  the  gymnasium. 
Nero  rendered  himself  obnoxious  by  training  up  free  boys  to 
become  paedagogi  (Sueton.  Nero^  8).  He  and  other  emperors  at¬ 
tached  large  numbers  to  the  court  for  the  sake  of  state  and  orna¬ 
ment.  The  modern  “  page  ”  has  its  origin  from  this  source,  and 
is  the  tit  meaning  of  the  word  in  this  place.  The  word  was  also 
applied  to  teachers.  The  paedagogium  denotes  the  apartments  in 
the  palace  occupied  by  the  pages.  Cf.  Pliny,  Epist.  7,  27 ;  also. 
Class.  Diet. — mancipia :  these  were  slaves  bought  in  the  market, 
as  distinguished  from  those  {vernulae)  reared  in  the  house.  The 
mancipia  were  very  numerous.  Horace  {Sat.  i.  6, 107)  ridicules 
the  praetor  Tullius  because  he  had  no  more  than  five  slaves  to 
accompany  him  from  the  Tiburtine  villa  to  Rome.  Cf.  Becker’s 
“  Callus.” — lain :  this  word,  when  connecting  sentences,  frequently 
has  the  force  oi  further ;  taken  with  etiam  it  may  be  rendered 
moreover;  Z.  286. — doinus,  etc.:  a  reference  to  the  splendor  of 
Nero’s  palace.  “  In  the  time  of  Nero  the  Palatine  hill  had  be¬ 
come  one  vast  congeries  of  imperial  piles  for  the  private  residence 
of  the  emperors  and  of  the  officials  of  the  court,  and  for  some 
public  purposes.  It  included  palaces,  temples,  libraries,  baths, 
and  fountains,  the  gardens  of  Adonis,  and  an  area  for  athletic 
games.  In  addition  to  the  complete  occupancy  of  the  Palatine 
hill,  he  constructed  another  palace,  the  domus  transitoria.,  across 


224 


NOTES. 


the  space  now  occupied  by  the  Coliseum,  which  ascended  the 
slope  of  the  Esquiline  to  the  borders  of  the  gardens  of  Maecenas, 
All  this  pile  of  palaces  was  rich  beyond  description  in  marbles, 
and  gilding,  and-frescoes,  and  bronzes,  and  mosaics,  and  statuary, 
and  paintings.” — Butler’s  “  St.  Paul  in  Rome,”  p.  134.  In  Nero's 
famous  “  Golden  House”  he  had  a  statue  of  himself  erected,  120 
feet  in  height.  His  palace  floors  were  paved  with  gold,  gems,  and 
precious  stones,  and  the  walls  were  adorned  with  paintings,  raised 
figures,  etc.;  cf.  Becker’s  “  Gallus,”  p.  34. — tecta:  the  ceilings 
were  also  inlaid  with  ivory  and  gold ;  cf.  Becker’s  “  Gallus,”  p. 
184;  Guhl  &  Koner’s  “The  Life  of  the  Greeks  and  Roinans,”  j). 
368,  etc.— perluceiitis,  for  'perlucentes. — aquas  et  circuiiifluentes, 
etc. :  a  novel  feature,  that  is  in  some  measure  approached  by  the 
aquaria  frequently  seen  in  American  houses ;  cf.  De  Prov.  3,  9,  n. 
— loquar  :  for  subj.,  cf.  A.  &  G.  268. — sceua;  a  reference  to  the 
magnificence  with  which  the  coenatio  was  fitted  up,  Suetonius 
relates  that  Nero’s  coenatio  was  furnished  like  a  theatre,  with 
shifting  scenes  for  every  course. 

6.  Circumfudit  .  .  .  circuinsoiiiiit,  this  extravagant  profusion 
encompassed  me  coming  from  a  secluded  place,  long  used  to  habits  of 
frugality,  and  oh  all  sides  resounded  with  its  flood  of  magniflcencx. 
This  description  may  be  taken  as  a  fair  illustration  of  the  style 
of  an  age  abounding  in  a  profusion  of  ornamental  rhetoric.  For 
an  account  of  the  dissolute  court  of  Nero,  vid.  Butler’s  “  St.  Paul 
in  Rome.” — frivola,  lit.  paltry  things,  wretched  furniture,  etc., 
mostly  post-Aug.  in  this  sense. — iiumquid :  this  word  can  only 
be  considered  as  an  interrog.  particle,  in  so  far  as  it  is  a  mere  sign 
of  a  question,  when  quid  has  no  meaning  at  all  (except  that  it 
strengthens  the  simple  interrog.)  ;  but  in  indirect  questions  such 
as  this  the  accus.  quid  usually  retains  its  pronominal  force ;  Z. 
351,  note. — ilia,  refers  to  the  splendid  appointments  of  the  palace. 
— vim  praeceptoriim,  the  teachings  of  my  instructors — a  refer¬ 
ence,  probably,  to  the  chief  Stoic  teachers,  Seneca’s  personal 
instructors  were  Papirius  Fabiauus,  Attains,  and  Sotion ;  see  In- 
TRODUCTio]sr,,p,  12. — virgis,  i.  e.  the  rods  of  the  lictors,  which  were 
borne  before  the  superior  magistrates.  Seneca  was  at  this  time 
praetor,  and  soon  after  became  the  chief  adviser  of  Nero. 

7 .  Promptus,  v.  1.  propius.  —  Zeiiona  :  a  native  of  Citium  in 


DE  TRANQUILLTTATE  ANIMT.  I.  7. 


225 


Cyprus,  flourished  about  b.c.  330.  He  was  the  founder  of  that 
system  of  philosophy  called  Stoic,  from  the  Stoa-  Poecile^  in 
Athens,  where  in  former  times  poets  were  accustomed  to  meet. 
For  particulars  as  to  his  scheme  of  philosophy,  consult  the  stand¬ 
ard  work  of  Zeller,  “  The  Stoics,  Epicureans,  and  Sceptics also, 
Ueberweg’s  “  History  of  Philosophy,”  Lewes’s  “  Hist,  of  Philoso¬ 
phy,”  and  Class.  Diet.— Cleantlien :  a  native  of  Assos  in  Troas, 
born  about  b.c.  300.  He  succeeded  Zeno  as  head  of  the  Stoic 
school.  One  of  his  doctrines  was  that  all  souls  are  immortal, 
but  that  the  intensity  of  existence  after  death  would  vary  ac¬ 
cording  to  the  strength  or  weakness  of  the  particular  soul,  there¬ 
by  leaving  to  the  wicked  some  apprehension  of  future  punish¬ 
ment.  Some  of  the  Stoics  held  that  only  the  souls  of  the  wise 
and  good  were  to  survive  death. — Chrysippum  :  a  native  of  Soli 
in  Cilicia,  born  b.c.  280.  He  studied  under  Cleanthes  at  Athens, 
and  became  his  successor;  and  of  him  it  has  been  said,  “if 
Chrysippus  had  not  lived, the  Porch  could  not  have  been”  (Diog. 
Laert.  vii.  183).  He  ranked  as  an  authority  among  the  Stoics, 
and  was  the  inventor  of  the  logical  “sorites.”  Cicero  drew 
largely  from  his  writings  for  the  Tusculaii  Disputations.  Vid. 
Zeller,  as  above,  and  Class.  Diet. — quorum  .  .  .  misit,  no  one  of 
whom  himself  entered  into  public  affairs.,  hut  each  enjoined  others  to 
do  so.  Chrysippus  held  that  a  prudent  man  avoids  business,  and 
that  a  statesman  must  either  displease  the  gods  or  disi3lease  the 
people.  “  Taken  alone.  Stoicism  could  form  excellent  men,  but 
hardly  excellent  statesmen ;  and,  looking  to  facts,  not  one  of  the 
old  masters  of  the  school  ever  had  or  desired  any  public  office” 
(Zeller’s  “Stoics,”  etc.,  p.  307,  308).  —  et  nemo:  if  a  negative 
proposition  is  followed  by  an  affirmative,  in  which  the  same 
thought  is  expressed  or  continued,  et  is  employed  in  Latin  where 
in  English  we  use  hut;  M.  433,  obs.  2. — arietari,  used  by  Seneca 
here  in  the  sense,  to  he  harassed,  viz.  by  confusion  in  public  affairs 
and  wrangling  in  the  forum ;  elsewhere  the  word  means  to  totter 
{Epist.  107,  2) ;  cf.  De  Pror.  1,  2,  n. — ex  facili,  adv.  phrase,  easily ; 
m,  infacili,defacili;  ci.  De  Benef.m.Q,'^. — res  non  .  .  .  aesti- 
mandae,  i.  e.  trivial  matters. — magno,  cf.  B.  &  M.  803,  obs.  5. — 
convertor :  this  verb  has  both  pass,  and  mid.  or  reflex,  meaning ; 
Z.  146. — domum,  adverbially,  homeward. — placet,  i.  e.  animo. 


226 


NOTES. 


8.  nihil  ,  .  .  redditurus,  fut.  part,  denotes  intention,  who  does 
7iot  intend  to  restore  ;  cf.  M.  425,  obs.  5. — quod  ad  .  .  .  spectet  = 
quod  ah  alieno  iudicio  pendeat ;  deo  et  sihi  placeat :  Lips. — ametur: 
amare  \niVQ  =  quaerere. — curae,  H.  399,  2,  3  ;  B.  &  M.  777. — com- 
modare  .  .  .  vocem :  this  refers  to  the  forensic  orator  in  his  ca¬ 
pacity  of  pleader  in  behalf  of  a  client’s  cause,  as  commodare  ope- 
ram  to  the  efforts  of  the  advocate  in  the  management  of  the 
details  of  the  cause ;  vid.  Diet.  Antiq.,  Orator,  Advocate,  Patro- 
nus.  Seneca,  it  is  to  be  remembered,  was  very  successful  as  a 
forensic  orator,  and  probably  much  of  his  wealth  was  acquired 
in  this  way.  See  Introd.  p.  12. — male  =  hnmerito. — 9.  In  studiis, 
etc. :  Lips,  thinks  that  there  is  here  a  defectiveness  and  want  of 
congruity. — verba  .  .  .  permittere,  to  suit  the  woi^ds  to  the  thought. 
— ut  .  .  .  sequatur  oratio :  the  sense  seems  to  be,  that  the  lan¬ 
guage  without  ambiguity  may  be  subject  to  the  thought. — seen- 
lis,  H.  379, 1 ;  B.  &  M.  950  ;  M.  235,  obs.  3;  cf.  Epist.  93,  3.  —  id 
agere  :  custom  has  established  the  superfluous  use  of  icZ,  as  pre¬ 
liminary  to  a  pro23osition  following ;  Z.  748. — non,  v.  1.  nunc. — 
funus  taciturn,  primte  funeral.  There  were  two  kinds  of  funer¬ 
als  among  the  Komans — taciturn  or  pleheium^  and  publicum  or  in- 
dictmum.,  because  the  j)eoj)le  were  invited  to  the  latter  by  the 
herald;  cf.  Brer.  Vit.  20,  4.  — 10.  sperare :  Haase  reads  spi- 
rare.  — pressioris  =  angusti.  —  et  ore,  supply  loquor.  —  non  nieo  : 
cf.  Hor,  Od.  iii.  25, 17  ;  Ovid,  Fasti,  vi.  5. — plus,  sc.  in  me  infirmita- 
tis.  —  pervideo,  v.  1.  provideo.  —  favor  =:  amor  sui  nimius.  —  11. 
quaedam,  sc.  vitia. — opertis,  v.  1.  apertis. — quod  .  .  .  iudices :  cf. 
§  2,  N.  quod  dicas. — adulatione  :  an  ancient  writer  quoted  by  Lips, 
observes,  omnis  Bomanus  adulatione  corrumpitur  aut  corrumpit ; 
cf.  Be  Benef.  vi.  30  ;  Epist.  59, 11. — 12.  lluctuationein,  sc.  animi. 
— dignuin  .  .  .  debeani :  Prov.  2,  6,  n. — adferentis,  for  ad- 

ferentes. 

II. — 1.  Quaero  iain  dudnm :  the  pres,  with  iam  diu  or  iam 
dudum  has  force  of  pres.-perf. ;  II.  467, 2 ;  B.  &  M.  1083. — Serene : 
Seneca,  in  the  first  chapter,  having  stated  the  points  for  discus¬ 
sion  and  inquiry,  now  jtroceeds  to  answer  at  length  his  supj^osed 
correspondent. — ulli,  v.  1.  ullius. — interim,  sometimes,  post.-Aug. 
in  this  sense;  cf.  Be  Ira,  i.  16. — cum  .  .  .  efifugeruut,  i.  e.  after 


DE  TEANQUILLTTATE  A.NIMI.  II.  1-6. 


227 


they  have  recovered  from  the  effects  of  the  disease ;  cf.  cum  .  .  . 
requiemt^  a  few.  lines  below. — 2.  durioribus,  sc,  medicmis. — sed 
illud,  supply  opus  est;  with  opus  the  thing  needed  is  preferred  in 
the  nomin.  if  it  be  a  neut.  pron.  or  adject. ;  cf.  Arnold’s  Latin 
Prose  Compos,  173  ;  H.  414,  iv.  note  4 ;  B.  &  M.  673. — 3.  non  con- 
cuti,  not  to  ie  shaken.,  or  agitated  violently  by  passions  or  otherwise. 
^Democriti :  Democritus  of  Abdera,  born  b.c.  460.  He  was  the 
chief  advocate  of  the  atomic  theory  of  Leucippus,  and  being  of 
a  very  cheerful  temperament,  he  became  known  as  the  “laugh¬ 
ing  philosopher.”  (Cf.  Be  Ira,  ii.  10.)  The  subject  evOvpia,  here 
mentioned,  was  the  title  of  one  of  his  treatises,  and  was  regarded 
in  his  philosophy  as  the  end  and  ultimate  object  of  our  actions. 
None  of  his  complete  works  are  extant. — nec  enim  .  .  .  necesse 
est,  and  (with  good  reason)  for  it  is  not  necessary. 

4.  Ergo  quaerimus,  etc. :  cf.  with  this  definition  that  of  De¬ 
mocritus  (as  given  in  Lipsius’s  Latin  version),  per  quam  tranquille 
et  constanter  animus  agit,  nullo  metu  perturhalus,  net  super stitionis, 
vel  alterius  affectus. — propitius  sibi,  i.  e.  satisfied  with  itself  and 
its  lot  or  state.— gaiidium :  cf.  Cicero’s  definition,  quum  ratione 
animus  moretur  placide  atque  constanter,  turn  illud  gaudium  dicitur 
{Tusc.  Bisp.  iv.  6, 13). — nec  adtollens,  etc.,  allowing  neither  pros¬ 
perity  nor  adversity  to  ruffle  the  calm  satisfaction  of  mind. — 
publico  remedio :  the  chief  Stoic  teachers  advised  participation 
in  public  affairs,  though  in  practice  they  avoided  it ;  cf,  1, 7,  N. — 
agnoscet,  v.  1.  cognoscet. — professionem :  Lips,  refers  this  either  to 
false  philosophers,  or  to  magistrates  and  rulers. — sub  ingenti  ti- 
tulo,  i.  e.  under  the  honored  title  of  a  wise  philosopher,  or  of  an 
officer  and  guardian  of  public  trusts. — simulatione,  i.  e.  of  living 
peacefully  and  cheerfully.  , 

6.  causa,  state  or  condition,  i.  e.  of  unrest. — Adice,  i.  e,  adjice  ; 
for  spelling,  cf.  Be  Prov.  2,  9,  n.— inveniant :  for  subj.,  cf.  H.  519, 
2;  B.  &  M.  238.— ad  uoYaiiduui  pigra,  too  sluggish  for  making  a 
change.— lAon  inconstantiae  vitio :  Lips,  reads,  non  constantia  in 
mta.—^,  ubi,  used  instead  of  relat.  pron.,  and  may  be  translated 
on  account  of  which. — consequuntur,  sc.  quod  concupiscunt.  —  in 
spein  toti  prominent,  i.  e.  they  live  entirely  upon  baseless  hopes ; 
said  of  a  class  who  are  always  hoping  and  never  realizing. — 
pendentibus  ad  vota  sua,  i.  e.  to  those  who  are  in  suspense  about 


228 


NOTES. 


the  realization  of  their  wishes ;  votum  means  an  offering  solemnly 
vowed  or  dedicated,  on  condition  that  one’s  wish  or  desire  be 
granted. — pendent,  a  tautological  repetition  of  the  thought  ex¬ 
pressed  'iiho\Q^jpendentil)us^  etc.  Fickert,  in  a  note,  gives  it  as  his 
impression  that  Seneca  wrote,  ad  mta  sua.  Omnia  inpendunt^ 
etc.,  or.  Ad  wta.  sua  omnia  inpendunt^  etc. :  almost  all  mss.  join 
the  words  in  this  way. — cogunt :  transitive  verbs  sometimes  have 
beside  their  own  proper  object  an  accus.  limiting  the  extent  of 
their  action ;  cf.  M.  229,  2 ;  Virg.  Aen.  x.  24. — prava,  sc.  sefecisse. 

7.  inter  destituta  vota,  in  the  midst  of  its  disappointed  hopes. 
— Quae,  and  these;  cf.  B.  &  M.  701,  1.  —  secreta  studia,  primte 
studies. — pati  non  potest :  cf.  Epist.  2,  1 ;  primum  argumentum 
conpositae  mentis  existimo.,  posse  consistere.,  et  secum  moimri. — ani¬ 
mus  .  .  .  erectus,  etc.,  a  mind  fixed  on  the  affairs  of  the  world., 
etc. — inquietus,  Haase  reads  paruin,  used  as  a  neuter 

subst.  and  as  such  followed  by  gen.  Z.  432  ;  B.  &  M.  1008. — non 
fert,  i.  e.  animus. — 8.  utique  ubi  =  however  it  may  be  at  other 
times,  this  is  assuredly  the  case  when,  etc. — agant :  cf.  Z.  562. — 
9.  quia,  followed  by  indie,  because  the  author  assigns  the  reason 
on  his  own  authority,  H.  516,  i. ;  B.  &  M.  1255.  It  is  character¬ 
istic  of  the  envious  to  desire  to  drag  clown  the  objects  of  their 
envy. — aversatione,  post- Aug.,  rarely  used. — processuuin  =  good 
fortunes.,  literally,  a  going  forward;  cf.  Be  Consol,  ad  Polyh.  28. — 
obirascens,  mostly  post- Aug.,  translate  as  a  verb,  and  so  with  the 
other  participles. 

10.  dixerim,  subj.  to  denote  modest  affirmation;  cf.  1,  1,n. — 
mala  :  cf.  Hor.  Ars  Poet.  453. — ut,  namely.,  or,  as  for  instance. — 
versare  se,  the  reflexive  pron.  sometimes  stands  in  universal  as¬ 
sertions  without  a  definite  reference  to  a  preceding  word;  cf. 
M.  490,  obs.  5.— 11..  Homericus  Achilles :  Iliad.,  xxiv.  10, 11 ;  cf. 
Odyss.  XX.  24,  etc. — varies  habitus,  various  or  different  postures. 
— quod  ...  est,  and  this  is  a  characteristic  of  a  side  man. — aegri : 
for  gen.,  cf  H.  399,  3 ;  B.  &  M.  781.— mutationibus  ut  remediis 
uti,  to  make  use  of  changes  as  a  means  of  relief  . — Aunc  Campaniam 
petamus :  Campania,  situate  between  Latium  and  Lucania,  has 
always  been  celebrated  for  the  fertility  of  its  soil,  the  beauty  of 
its  scenery,  and  the  salubrity  of  its  climate.  Many  of  the 
wealthier  citizens  of  Home  had  villas  along  its  hill-sides,  and  the 


DE  TEANQUILLITATE  ANIMT.  II.  11,  12. 


229 


ruins  of  some  of  these  can  be  seen  to  this  day. — iam,  'presently ^ 
said  of  the  immediate  future. — inculta,  the  untilled  or  woody 
country^  referring  to  Bruttium  and  Lucania. — Bruttios  et  Luca- 
iiiae  saltus :  Bruttium  was  the  southernmost  district  of  the 
Italian  mainland.  The  inhabitants  are  said  to  have  originated 
from  the  slaves  and  shepherds  of  the  Lucanians,  who  took  refuge 
m  the  mountain  fastnesses  of  the  south.  Diodorus  Siculus  re¬ 
lates  that  they  became  an  independent  nation  or  people  about 
B.c.  357.  They  lived  mostly  in  the  interior,  the  coasts  being 
chiefly  occupied  by  Greek  colonies.  In  b.c.  274  they  were  con¬ 
quered  by  the  Komans,  and  made  tributary  until  the  invasion  of 
Hannibal,  whose  standard  they  joined.  After  the  departure  of 
the  Carthaginians  the  Romans  took  vengeance  upon  the  Bruttii 
by  subjecting  them  to  complete  vassalage.  Lucania  was  divided 
from  Bruttium  by  the  river  Laus.  The  people  were  brave,  and 
gradually  acquired  possession  of  the  Greek  cities  on  the  coast. 
They  were  subdued  by  the  Romans  after  Pyrrhus  had  left  Italy, 
and  on  Hannibal’s  appearance  joined  him  against  their  oppress¬ 
ors.  The  result  was  that  during  the  second  Punic  war  Lucania 
was  repeatedly  laid  waste,  and  never  recovered  its  former  pros¬ 
perity.  The  malaria,  which  is  so  fatal  there,  had  doubtless  made 
itself  felt  already ;  the  towns  of  the  interior  fell  into  decay,  and 
the  mountain  ranges  became  one  of  the  wildest  regions  of  Italy. 
Large  sections  were  used  for  grazing,  and  extensive  forests  fur¬ 
nished  supplies  of  swine  for  the  tables  of  the  Romans,  and  wild 
boars  and  bears  for  the  amphitheatres.  Hence  Seneca  mentions 
these  regions,  in  their  rugged  wildness,  as  contrasted  with  the 
loveliness  of  Campania. — amoeiii,  refers  to  pleasure  received 
through  the  sense  of  sight,  and  hence  very  properly  used  here  in 
connection  with  oculi. — luxuriosi  oculi,  our  eyes  feasted  with  lux¬ 
urious  releveiitiir,  subj.  of  purpose,  B.  &  M.  1205. 

12.  Tarentum,  the  modern  Taranto^  was  one  of  the  most  inter¬ 
esting  cities  of  ancient  times,  and  was  of  Lacedaemonian  origin. 
It  was  distinguished  for  its  mild  climate,  beautiful  scenery,  and 
excellent  harbor.  Its  present  harbor  is  sixteen  miles  in  circuit. 
By  reason  of  its  superior  commercial  facilities  it  rose  to  great 
wealth,  and  became  noted  for  its  luxury  and  reflnement.  Vid. 
Class.  Diet. — — winter ;  cf.  Virg.  Aen.  i.  266. — coeli  = 


230 


NOTES. 


ov  climate. — re^io  .  .  .  turbae:  tlie  tlionglit  is  that  even  in  Sen¬ 
eca’s  time  the  dwellings  within  the  enclosure  of  the  walls  were 
so  numerous,  as  well  as  so  rich  and  extensive,  as  to  be  able  to 
hold  even  its  aneient  population,  notwithstanding  the  fact  that  a 
considerable  portion  of  the  city  had  been  long  deserted.  Strabo 
(vi.  j).  278)  says:  “The  ancient  wall  comprises  a  circuit  of  great 
extent,  but  now  the  greater  part  of  the  space  adjoining  the  isth¬ 
mus  is  deserted.” — plausu  .  .  .  fragore,  theatrali  .  .  .  Gircensi 
understood ;  Lips. — iuvat,  etc.,  refers  to  contests  of  gladiators 
with  each  other  and  with  wild  beasts. — semper  fugit:  the  ad¬ 
verb  is  not  in  the  original,  but  aptly  inserted  by  Seneca;  cf. 
Lucretius,  Be  Rerum  Nat.  iii.  1081. 

13.  non  effugit  ?  cf.  Hor.  Od.  ii.  16. — gravissimus,  most  trouble¬ 
some  or  most  dangerous. — qnod  .  .  .  locum,  because  of  frequent 
change  of  purpose  .  .  .  they  had  left  no  opportunity  for  novelty. — 
Fastidio  esse  illis,  to  be  a  source  of  disgust  to  them  ;  H.  390 ;  B.  & 
M.  848.  —  rabidariim  deliciarum:  Lips,  suggests  tabidarum,  in 
the  sense  of  def  dentes.^  languentes:  pleasures  that  have  been  ex¬ 
hausted — that  fail  to  give  us  any  further  enjoyment.  Compare 
Farrar’s  apposite  words  in  this  connection :  “  In  proportion  to 
the  luxury  of  the  age  were  its  misery  and  its  exhaustion.  The 
mad  pursuit  of  pleasure  was  the  death  and  degradation  of  all 
true  happiness.  Suicide — suicide  out  of  pure  ennui  and  discon¬ 
tent  at  a  life  overflowing  with  every  possible  means  of  indul¬ 
gence' — was  extraordinarily  prevalent.  .  .  .  The  philosophy  which 
alone  professed  itself  able  to  heal  men’s  sorrows  applauded  the 
supposed  courage  of  a  voluntary  death ;  and  it  was  of  too  ab¬ 
stract,  too  fantastic,  and  too  purely  theoretical  character  to  fur¬ 
nish  them  with  any  real  or  lasting  consolation  ”  (Farrar’s  “  Seek¬ 
ers  after  God,”  p.  49). — Quousque  eadem  ?  Lips,  suggests,  as  the 
meaning  here,  viz.  dormire.,  surgere.^  ingerere.^  egerere.,  libidinari., 
fatiscere.,  et  omnia  in  orbem  ;  cf.  Epist.  24,  26  ;  89, 18. 

III.— 1.  ^mi  —  esset ;  the  extract  from  Athenodorus  extends 
to  middle  of  §  7. — Athenodorus.  Several  ancient  philosophers 
bore  this  name.  The  one  here  referred  to  was  probably  the  cele¬ 
brated  Stoic  surnamed  Gordylio.  He  was  born  at  Tarsus,  and 
had  charge  of  the  library  at  Pergamus.  Cato  the  Younger,  at- 


DE  TRANQUILLITATE  ANIMI.  III.  1-3. 


231 


tracted  by  his  fame,  made  him  a  visit,  brought  back  the  philoso¬ 
pher  with  him  to  Rome,  and  lived  on  terms  of  entire  intimacy 
with  him  during  the  remainder  of  his  life.  While  with  Cato, 
Athenodorus  composed  a  work  of  some  note,  which,  however, 
has  been  lost — 7r€|0t  airovSriQ  kuI  TraidEiag.  Cf.  Epist.  10,  4 ;  Diog. 
Laert.  vii.  34. — actione  .  .  .  detiuere :  on  the  Stoic  views  as  to 
taking  part  in  public  affairs,  cf.  1,  7,  n. — actione  reruiii,  in  the 
transaction  of  general  iniblic  duties :  actio  refers  to  every  civil, 
political  action,  transaction,  e.  g.  de  pace^  and  actions  in  court ;  cf. 
Ramshorn’s  Lat.  Synonyms. — lacertos  ...  nutrire  :  nutrire  has 
here  a  zeugmatic  force :  to  exercise  the  muscles  of  the  arms^  and 
nurse  their  strength,  to  which  alone  they  hare  dedicated  themselves. — 
propositum  habeat  —proposuerit :  for  use  of  haheo  and  perf.  part, 
instead  of  perf.  tense,  cf.  H.  388,  1,  note;  M.  427 ;  B.  &  M.  1358, 
obs.  4;  for  subj.,  cf.  H.  517 ;  B.  &  M.  1250 ;  A.  &  G.  326. 

2.  Sed  quia  .  .  .  recedeuduin  est :  cf.  Lord  Bolingbroke’s  re¬ 
marks  (Letter  212,  vol.  ii.) :  “  When  I,  who  pass  a  great  part,  very 
much  the  greatest  part,  of  my  life  alone,  sally  forth  into  the 
world,  I  am  very  far  from  expecting  to  improve  myself  by  the 
conversation  I  find  there,  and  still  further  from  caring  one  jot 
what  passes  there.” — quia :  cf.  2,  9,  n. — inquit,  i.  e.  Athenodorus. 
— insaua  .  .  .  ambitione :  allusion  is  here  probably  made  to  the 
internecine  struggles  of  the  great  leaders  in  the  contest,  Pompey, 
Caesar,  Antony,  etc.,  and  may  well  be  used  as  pointing  to  the 
dangers  surrounding  public  men  also  under  the  empire. — tot  ca- 
luumiatoribus  .  .  .  torquentibus,  while  so  many  detractoi's  are 
putting  a  sinister  construction  upon  virtues  and  straightforward 
conduct. — plus  fiituruin  .  .  .  succedat,  i.  e.  there  will  always  be 
more  hindrances  than  aids  to  success. — sed,  denotes  strong  oppo¬ 
sition,  and  interrupts  the  narration :  autem  is  weaker  in  this  re¬ 
spect,  yet  serves  as  a  connective. — Iiomiuum :  supply  vires  coer- 
centur. — iu  seducto,  in  retirement. 

3.  reipublicae,  i.  e.  before  the  establishment  of  the  empire 
under  Augustus. — candidates  extraliit:  words  which  seem  ap¬ 
plicable  to  a  practice,  in  the  times  of  the  emperors,  of  partisans 
taking  their  candidates  by  the  hand;  cf.  Pliny’s  Epist.  iii.  20; 
Seneca,  Epist.  8, 6, where  he  remarks,  “to  give  my  friend  my  hand 
and  suffrage  in  the  Senate  wdien  a  candidate  for  some  public 


232 


NOTES. 


office.” — in  taiita  .  .  .  praeceptornm  inopia:  Seneca  often  re¬ 
fers  to  the  lack  of  high  moral  principle  in  his  time.  So  Butler 
fittingly  remarks ;  “  It  must  have  seemed  as  if  all  the  principles 
of  morality  and  honor  and  mercy,  which  had  hitherto  at  least 
struggled  to  maintain  a  place  in  human  affairs,  had  at  length 
given  way,  and  resigned  the  world  to  the  single  sway  of  power 
employed  as  the  instrument  of  luxury,  rapacity,  lust,  cruelty,  and 
the  varied  crimes  whose  evil  brotherhood  is  never  broken”  (But¬ 
ler’s  “  St.  Paul  in  Koine,”  p.  127). — mentis,  i.  e.  ruentes;  cf.  De 
Prov.  3,  7,  N.  mgantis.—wWiil  aliud,  sc.  projicit^  agit. 

4.  iirbanus  praetor:  this  was  the  judge  who  decided  cases 
between  Roman  citizens,  and  was  first  appointed  n.c.  356.  As 
foreigners  resident  in  Rome  increased,  a  magistrate  became  nec¬ 
essary  to  determine  between  them  and  Roman  citizens.  This 
office  was  created  b.c.  244,  and  the  incumbent  was  called  praetor 
perigrinus.  Vid.  Diet.  Antiq. — adeuntibns,  sc.  in  jus^  from  the 
legal  phrase  adire  in  jiLS^  to  go  before  a  judge,  or  to  go  to  law. — 
adsessoris :  the  assessor  was  the  legal  adviser  or  assistant  of  the 
magistrate.  It  happened  not  infrequently  that  the  praetor  and 
other  mtigistrates  were  not  very  well  skilled  in  the  law,  and  hence 
arose  the  necessity  of  an  assistant  or  adviser.  According  to  Lips., 
he  dictated  the  sentence,  though  he  did  not  formally  pronounce 
it  himself.  The  judge  then  may  very  properly  be  said  to  pro¬ 
nounce  the  words  of  the  assessor.  Yid.  Diet.  Antiq. — qui,  sc. 
docet\  or  some  word  of  similar  force.  —  gratuituin,  i.  e.  freely 
given,  without  price  or  reward,  of  good-will  alone. — officiis  :  cf. 
H.  425,  2.  3 ;  B.  &  M.  855.— non  deserueris,  i.  e.  the  post  of  duty. 

5.  quamvis  .  .  .  sint:  for  subj.,  cf.  H.  515,  iii. ;  B.  &M.  1282. — 
in  niinierum,  etc.,  i.  e.  they  are  enrolled  and  receive  pay  equally 
with  the  rest. — 6.  inittit  sui  sig'na,  etc.,  i.  e.  just  as  the  sun  or 
other  luminary  sheds  its  rays  of  light  all  around. — aquas  .  .  . 
educere,  i.  e.  to  alter  the  courses  of  rivers. — consiiinendum  :  for 
use  of  gerundive,  cf.  H.  544,  note  2;  B.  &  M.  1315. — 7.  Alii  .  .  . 

some  of  us  .  .  .  others  of  us. — inpendinms,  sc.  — reli- 

qiiias,  i.  e.  no  actually  accomplished  work  remains,  as  an  equiva¬ 
lent  for  tlie  time  consumed. — Milii,  i.  e.  Seneca.  He  now  comments 
on  Athenodorus’s  sentiments. — negaverini,  subj.  in  modest  asser¬ 
tions,  M.  350  b,  380. — relate  gradii,  with  a  gradual  retreat.  The 


DE  TRANQUILLITATE  ANIMI.  III.  7-10. 


233 


lirtiioiis  man  should  retire  from  a  disadvantageous  and  detri¬ 
mental  public  position,  as  an  army  from  before  the  superior 
forces  of  the  enemy,  orderly  and  with  honor,  without  the  loss  of 
standards,  and  with  jDcrfect  discipline. — fidem,  security. 

8.  fdYiviW^  =z  misfortune.  Reference  is  here  probably  to  the 
danger  wdiich  Seneca  incurred  as  a  frequenter  of  the  forum. 
Having  gained  high  reputation  as  an  eloquent  pleader  of  causes, 
he  aroused  the  jealousy  and  hatred  of  Caligula  ;  this  led  to  his 
abandoning  the  excitement  of  the  forum,  and  betaking  himself 
to  the  quieter  walks  of  philosophy.  ^  Vid.  Suetonius,  Caligula; 
also.  Class.  Diet. — iiiferiit,  v.  1.  inserat. — officiis,  i.  e.  muniis  publi- 
cis. — 9.  nos,  i.  e.  the  Stoic  leaders  and  teachers.— non  unius  nr- 
bis :  cf.  Be  Otio,  31. — rostris  :  the  stage  from  which  orators  ad¬ 
dressed  the  people  assembled  in  the  forum.  The  name  was 
derived  from  the  beaks  of  ships  with  which  the  stage  was 
adorned.  Yid.  Diet.  Antiq.  —  comitiis :  as  this  word  refers  to 
the  action  of  the  people  in  the  time  of  the  republic,  its  occur¬ 
rence  here  seems  somewhat  singular, — qiiantuin,  as  a  designa¬ 
tion  of  multitude,  for  quot^  how  many. 

10.  prytanis,  for  prytanes :  the  chief  magistrate  or  president 
of  the  Senate  {■Kpvravic)  in -some  of  the  Grecian  states,  as  Athens, 
Corinth,  Miletus,  etc.,  was  called  prytanis.  At  Athens  it  seems 
probable  that  originally  the  prytanes  ranked  next  to  the  archons, 
acting  as  judges,  and  holding  courts  in  the  prytaneium  (or  City 
Hall).  After  the  overthrow  of  the  thirty  tyrants  by  Thrasybulus, 
ten,  and  afterwards  thirty  prytanes  were  chosen  to  administer 
the  government.  Yid.  Diet.  Antiq. ;  Grote’s  “  Hist,  of  Greece,” 
vol.  iv.  65. — ceryx  (KrjpvK) :  another  example  of  Latinizing  Greek 
words,  common  in  Seneca’s  time.  The  ceiyx,  at  one  period,  was 
the  priest  who  performed  the  religious  rites  of  Ceres,  according 
to  Lipsius.  He  was  also  a  praeco  or  legatus,  an  ambassador,  the 
sense  here. — sufes :  the  chief  ruler  of  the  Carthaginians,  corre¬ 
sponding  to  the  consul  of  the  Romans ;  cf.  Livy,  xxx.  7 ;  Authon’s 
Class,  Diet.  (Carthago). — primam  frontem,  i.  e.  among  the  hastati, 
the  first  line  of  battle  in  the  Roman  army. — triarios :  the  veteran 
division,  which  occupied  the  third  and  last  place,  while  the  ha- 
stati  and  prineipes  held  the  first  and  second.  These  fought  only 
when  the  other  troops  could  no  longer  resist  the  enemy.  When 


234 


NOTES. 


not  in  action  they  rested  themselves  on  the  right  foot,  with  the 
left  advanced,  and  protected  themsej,ves  with  their  broad  shields. 
— ille  in  proelio  :  a  reference  to  Cynaegirus,  brother  of  the  poet 
Aeschylus,-  with  whom  he  fought  bravely  at  Marathon.  Herodo¬ 
tus  relates  (vi.  114)  that  he  with  others  pursued  the  Persians  to 
their  ships,  and  endeavored  to  climb  up  into  a  vessel,  but  Cynae- 
girus’s  right  hand  was  cut  off,  and  he  fell  into  the  water  and 
perished.  The  story  was  afterwards  much  exaggerated.  Cf. 
Justin,  2,  9  ;  Class.  Diet. — prima  .  .  .  f  ront  ranh  in  jmUic 

affairs. 

11.  .Tiiditus  eius  yisnsque:  others  read,  auditu  enim.^  risu, 
rultu,nutu,  etc.  The  whole  sentence  is  expressive  of  the  moral 
and  active  aid  and  support  which  the  good  citizen  yields  to 
every  effort  for  the  public  welfare. — ohstiiiatione  tacita:  there 
are  times  when  silence  itself  is  powerfully  eloquent ;  e.  g.  that 
noble  citizen  and  philosopher,  P.  Thrasea,  refused  to  join  in  the 
laudations  of  Hero  in  the  Senate;  and  later,  when  the  murder  of 
Agrippina  by  her  own  son’s  orders  was  announced  in  the  Senate 
as  a  piece  of  good  fortune,  Thrasea  rushed  out  in  indignant  scorn 
and  contempt.  He  was  put  to  death  by  Nero,  a.d.  66. — citra, 
without ;  so  mostly  in  post- Aug.  prose,  especially  in  Quintilian. — 
ita  yirtus,  etc.,  i.  e.  virtue,  however  circumscribed  or  limited, 
leavens  everything  within  the  sphere  of  its  influence  by  the  very 
force  of  its  inherent,  penetrating,  and  assimilating  excellence. — 
et  lateiis,  and  that.,  too.,  when  unjjerceired. — precarios,  uncertain, 
as  being  dependent  on  the  will  of  another. 

12.  Longe  itaque :  the  conclusion  to  the  argument  in  opposi¬ 
tion  to  the  teaching  of  Athenodorus  expressed  above,  viz.  that 
for  peace  of  mind,  in  this  world  of  detractors,  we  ought  to  with¬ 
draw  entirely  from  participation  in  public  affairs. — prohibietur, 
Y.\.  prohibehitur. — qiiam  .  .  .  fait:  as  the  first  member  of  the 
comparison  is  governed  by  a  verb,  which  does  not  also  belong  to 
the  second  member,  a  new  proposition  after  quam  is  formed  with 
a  verb  {fuit)  of  its  own ;  cf  M.  303  b. — triginta  tyranni :  Athens 
was  taken  by  LySander  b.c.  404,  which  closed  the  Peloponnesian 
war,  after  twenty-seven  years’  struggle.  The  government  of  the 
city  was  placed  by  the  conqueror  in  the  hands  of  a  council  con¬ 
sisting  of  thirty  archons,  usually  designated  in  history  as  the 


DE  TKANQUILLITATE  ANIMI.  III.  12-14. 


235 


thirty  tyrants.  Vicl.  Class.  Diet,  and  Grote’s  or  Tliirlwall’s  “  Hist, 
of  Greece.” — divellereut,  distracted.^  or  disturbed  riolently. 

13.  Areos  pagos  (spelled  Areioiiagus.^  or  Ariopagos.,  by  others)  : 

the  hill  of  Ares  or  Mars,  so  called  from  the  tradition  that  Mars 
was  the  first  person  tried  there,  on  a  charge  of  murdering  Halir- 
rhotius,  son  of  Neptune.  The  celebrated  tribunal  which  held  its 
sittings  there  had  existed  from  very  ancient  times  (Grote’s  “  Hist, 
of  Greece,”  hi.  72,  3,  etc.),  and  was  subsequently  modified  by  So¬ 
lon.  It  was  before  members  of  this  venerable  court  that  St.  Paul 
made  his  defence,  as  recorded  in  Acts  xvii.  22.  A  learned  writer, 
in  his  commentary,  says  :  “  Areiopagus,  or  Hill  of  Mars,  a  rocky 
ridge  fiicing  the  Acropolis,  from  which  the  highest  court  of 
Athens  took  its  name.  The  seats  of  the  judges,  hewn  in  the 
solid  rock,  are  still  visible.  Some  have  supposed  the  name  in 
this  case  to  denote  the  court  itself,  before  which  Paul  was  now 
arraigned,  as  Socrates  had  been  450  years  before,  for  the  same 
offence  of  introducing  strange  or  foreign  gods.  The  objection 
to  this  supposition  is,  not  that  the  court  had  been  dissolved  or 
deprived  of  its  authority,  which  is  uncertain,  but  that  the  ensu¬ 
ing  context  is  without  a  vestige  of  judicial  process,  and  that 
Paul,  at  the  close  of  his  address,  went  out,  it  would  seem,  with¬ 
out  the  slightest  molestation.  He  was,  no  doubt,  taken  to  the 
xVreiopagus  as  a  convenient  and  customary  place  for  pul)lic  speak¬ 
ing,  ...  It  seems  to  have  been  very  much  as  if  a  stranger,  preach¬ 
ing  in  the  streets  of  any  modern  town,  should  be  taken,  not  be¬ 
fore  a  court,  but  to  a  court-house,  as  a  convenient  and  appropriate 
locality  in  which  to  answer  for  himself  before  the  pulffic.”  Cf. 
Eschenburg’s  “  Manual  of  Class.  Literature,”  184,  §  108 ;  Class. 
Diet.;  also, Wordsworth’s  “Athens  and  Attica,”  ch.  xi.^ — seiiatu, 
dat.,  usual  form  Hariiiodios  :  Harmodius  and  Aristogi- 

ton,  Athenians,  were  two  intimate  friends,  who,  on  account  of  a 
gross  insult  to  one  of  them,  slew  Hipparchus,  a  son  of  Pisistratus, 
and  brother  of  Hippias,  tyrants,  b.c.  514.  They  both  lost  their 
lives.  Four  years  later  Hippias  was  expelled,  and  the  Athenians 
ever  after  looked  upon  Harmodius  and  Aristogiton  as  patriots 
and  martyrs  for  liberty.  Cf.  Be  Benef.  vii.  15,  2. 

14.  ill  medio  erat :  cf  Cic.  Ad  Attkum.,  viii.  2,  4. — metiieuli- 
bus :  because  the  rich  were  especially  imperilled  under  the  ty- 


236 


NOTES. 


rants. — cum  .  .  .  incederet,  while^  etc.  When  time  only  is  de¬ 
noted,  cum  rarely  takes  subj.,  H.  518,  ir.  3. — et  qui  tuto  insulta- 
verat  .  .  .  tulit :  not  to  the  thirty  tyrants,  but  to  the  liberated 
Athenians  did  Socrates  owe  his  death ;  vid.  Class.  Diet. ;  Plato’s 
Apology^  p.  21. — eius  .  .  .  libertas  nou  tulit :  cf.  De  Const.  SaiJ. 
2,  4 ;  De  Belief  .  v.  6,  6. — ut  scias  :  subj.  of  purpose,  depending  on 
some  verb  understood,  as  profero  hoc.,  or  the  like. — pecuniam: 
Lips,  suggests  petulantiam..-—!^,  explicabimus  nos,  etc.:  a  salu¬ 
tary  political  precept,  to  accommodate  ourselves  to  the  exigen¬ 
cies  of  times  and  occasions,  without  violation  of  truth  and  virtue ; 
Lips. — adliserit,  dash  in  pieces.,  a  figure  taken  from  shipwreck. — 
absconderit,  hasely  hide  himself  out  of  sight ;  cf.  the  character 
which  Tacitus  portrays  in  his  Agricola. — Aon  est  enini  servare 
se  obruere  :  the  readings  are  various.  Erasmus  gives,  non  enim 
dehet  serrantem  se  obruere. 

lb.  Curius  Bentatus :  thus  named,  says  Pliny,  because  born 
with  teeth.  He  was  three  times  consul,  and  was  renowned  for 
his  victories  over  the  Samnites,  Sabines,  and  Pyrrhus,  king  of 
Epirus.  His  habits  were  very  simple  and  frugal,  and  when  the 
Sainnite  ambassadors  went  to  visit  him,  as  Plutarch  tells  us,  they 
found  him  boiling  turnips.  His  answer  to  them  was  that  a  man 
who  could  live  as  cheaply  as  he  was  living  had  no  need  of  gold. 
— vivere,  sc.  mortuum,  i.  e.  a  virtually  dead,  useless  life ;  cf.  Epist. 
82,  3,  otium  sine  litteris  mors  est  et  hominis  vivi  sepultura, — plus, 
sc.  temporis.  ^ 

IV. — 1.  aut  cum  quibus,  sc.  agendum  est.  —  fere  .  .  .  nobis, 
lit.  commonly,  to  ourselres  we  seem  ;  commonly  in  our  own  judgment. 
—alius  patrimonio  .  .  .  posset  =  another  forced  the  productive 
powers  of  his  estate  beyond  endurance,  that  is,  to  meet  his  great 
expenditures;  cf  sola  terrae  seges  imperatur  (Tacitus,  Germania, 
26). — 2.  primam  frontem :  indicating  the  confident  countenance 
ov  resolution  which  the  public  man  must  exhibit,  in  opposition  to 
the  shamefacedness  or  iashfulness,  denoted  by  v^ecundia. — ad  au- 
1am,  in  the  palace  or  at  where  obsequiousness  usually  meets 
with  better  success  than  sturdiness  or  stubbornness. — urbauita- 
tem,  humor  or  raillery. 


DE  TEANQUILLITATE  ANIMI.  V.  1-VI.  1.  237 

V.— 1.  cum  rebus  .  .  .  coiiparandae :  to  the  same  effect,  cf. 
De  Ira,  iii.  6,  7 ;  Hor.  Ars  Poetica,  38,  9.  What  are  the  other  con¬ 
structions  after  conparare  ? — actore,  v.  1.  'rector e,  latore. — necesse 
est,  ut  omitted ;  cf.  H.  502 ;  Z.  625  ;  M.  373,  obs.  1. — fereute  :  abl. 
after  comparative. — 2.  unde  liber  regressus  non  sit :  suggestive 
of  Virgil’s  'vvell-known  lines  {Aen.  vi.  126-128)  :  ■ 

“facilis  descensus  Averno; 

Sed  revocare  gradum  superasqne  evadere  ad  auras, 

Hoc  opus,  hie  labor  est.” 

YI» — !•  an  .  .  .  perveniat,  whether  the  expenditure  of  our  ti'me 
will  reach  the'm,  i.  e.  whether  our  efforts  will  effect  any  good  in 
them. — nobis  .  .  .  inputant,  i.  e.  some  persons  actually  imagine 
that,  when  they  are  under  obligations  to  us  for  our  good  offices, 
we  are  the  parties  who  are  indebted.  They  charge  to  our  ac¬ 
count,  witliout  questioning,  that  with  which  we  ought  to  be  cred¬ 
ited.  Cf.  Be  Benef.  ii.  17,  6,  siiperbi  et  inputatores ;  Suetonius, 
Tiber.  53. — Atlienodorus,  surnamed  Ga'nanites,  from  Cana  in  Cili¬ 
cia,  the  birthplace  of  his  fatlier,  though  he  himself  was  a  native 
of  Tarsus.  He  was  a  Stoic  philosopher,  and  taught  at  Apollonia 
in  Epirus.  Here  he  attracted  the  attention  of  Octavius,  and  was 
by  him  induced  to  go  to  Rome,  where  he  became  an  intimate 
friend  and  adviser  of  the  emperor.  He  wrote  a  treatise  against 
the  Categories  of  Aristotle,  and  was  author  of  some  other  works 
of  note.  Vid.  Class.  Diet. — ne  ad  coenam  .  .  .  sit,  that  he  would 
dine  with  no  man  who  would  not  in  returii  feel  under  obligation  for 
this  fawr. — coenam  :  this  was  the  principal  meal  of  the  Romans, 
and  one  to  which  they  devoted  special  attention.  The  business 
of  the  day  having  been  finished,  they  gave  themselves  up  to 
enjoy  the  coena,  which  was  often  protracted  until  late  in  the 
evening.  For  a  detailed  account  of  the  meals  of  the  Romans,  cf. 
Diet.  Antiq. ;  Becker’s  “  Gallus,”  p.  451-470;  Guhl  &  Koner’s 
“  The  Life  of  the  Greeks  and  Romans,”  p.  501-507. — puto  intel- 
legis ;  cf.  3,  1,  N.  fateor. — qui  cum  amicorum  .  .  .  faciunt,  who 
settle  with  a  feast  their  obligations  to  the  hind  offices  of  their  friends. 
— paria  meiisa,  v.  1.  parem  mensam,  or  pares  wensas.— fericula ; 
the  various  courses  of  the  feast ;  literally,  the  frames  on  which 
the  servants  brought  the  different  dishes  served  during  the  feast ; 

L 


238 


NOTES. 


\\Q\\CQ  fericula  came  to  mean  the  number  of  courses,  and  even  the 
dishes  themselves. 

2.  illis,  i.  e.  Consider andum,  etc. ;  Lipsius  suggests 

that  there  is- so  great  lack  of  unity  in  this  chapter  as  to  give  rise 
to  the  impression  that  a  portion  of  the  original  has  been  lost. — 
mitiira  tua  .  .  .  feret :  as  an  element  conducive  to  peace  of 
mind,  Seneca  insists  upon  natural  aptitude  for  any  calling.  How 
much  disquietude,  as  well  as  ill-success  and  misfortune,  might 
be  avoided  if  this  rule  were  always  regarded  ! — feret,  v.  1.  defert^ 
or  refert. — Isocrates :  a  distinguished  teacher  of  rhetoric,  born 
at  Athens  b.c.  436.  He  first  established  a  school  in  the  island 
of  Chios,  and  afterwards  at  Athens,  where  he  often  had  as  many 
as  one  hundred  students,  and,  as  his  terms  were  high,  he  acquired 
a  large  fortune.  He  died  at  a  very  advanced  age,  just  after  the 
battle  of  Chaeronea,  b.c.  338.  Thoroughly  persuaded  of  the  value 
of  oratory  in  public  affairs,  he  devoted  himself  to  releasing  it 
from  sophistry,  as  far  as  possible,  and  basing  it  on  sound  moral 
principle.  His  style  is  rather  labored  and  artificial,  and  his  ora¬ 
tions  on  a  great  variety  of  topics  give  evidence  of  the  most  con¬ 
scientious  care  and  attention.  One  of  them,  the  Panegyricus^  is 
said  to  have  occupied  ten  or  even  fifteen  years  in  its  preparation. 
Yid.  Quint,  x.  4,  4;  also.  Class.  Diet. — Epliorum:  a  Greek  histo¬ 
rian,  born  at  Cumae,  in  Aeolis,  about  b.c.  405.  He  was  a  pupil 
of  Isocrates,  at  whose  advice  he  turned  his  attention  especially  to 
history.  Only  fragments  of  his  history,  in  thii’ty  books,  of  the 
early  Greeks  and  Barbarians  have  survived.  On  tlie  whole,  prob¬ 
ably  the  loss  is  not  very  great,  as  he  differed  frequently  from 
standard  authorities,  as  Herodotus,  Thucydides,  and  Xenophon. 
Vid.  Polybius,  xii.  25 ;  also.  Class.  Diet. — Male  eniin  .  .  .  labor 
est:  this,  with  other  apophthegms  that  are  found  in  Seneca,  is 
fairly  to  be  compared  with  the  sententiae  of  the  best  classical 
writers.  His  apt  and  forcible  epigrammatic  sayings  are  well 
worthy  of  being  referred  to  and  quoted. — coacta  ingenia :  a  ref¬ 
erence  to  the  proverb,  nequid  invita  Minerva.  Lips.Js  of  opinion 
that  there  is  something  lost  between  the  end  of  this  and  the  be¬ 
ginning  of  the  next  chapter. 

VII. — 1.  aeque  ...  quaiu,  so  much  ...  as,  only  found  in 


DE  TRANQUILLITATE  ANIMI.  VII.  1-4.  239 

Plautus  and  post- Aug.  writers ;  cf.  Pliny,  Nat.  Hist.  ii.  83  ;  Tacit. 
Ann.  xiv.  38  ;  Suetonius,  August.  64,  89. — amicitia :  the  praise  of 
which  is  fully  set  forth  in  Cicero’s  charming  tractate.  He  Ami¬ 
citia. — quantum  fieri  poterit :  the  indie,  is  used  in  restrictive 
phrases  with  quayitum.,  but  the  relative  requires  subj. ;  cf.  Z.  559. 
—2.  Serpunt  enim  vitia  .  .  .  iioceut:  the  sentiment  is  much 
tin-  same  with  1  Cor.  xv.  33:  “Be  not  deceived;  evil  communi- 
ciuions  corrupt  good  manners;”  cf.  He  Ira.,  ii.  8. — pericula  tra- 
hemus,  we  shall  incur  danger.- — Sana:  supply  corpora. — ubi  .  .  . 
quaerimus  ?  i.  e.  the  Stoic’s  “  wise  man,”  who  exists  not,  as  Mo- 
rell  observes,  but  in  description.  So  Plutarch  {He  Stoic,  repugn. 
11, 1),  “there  is  no  such  one  upon  earth,  nor  ever  was;”  cf.  Cic. 
Academ.  i.  10,  38 ;  Diog.  Laert.  vii.  117.  “  To  sum  up  ”  (as  Zeller 

says,  “  The  Stoics,”  etc.,  p.  254),  “  the  wise  man  is  absolutely  per¬ 
fect,  absolutely  free  from  passion  and  want,  absolutely  happy ;  as 
the  Stoics  exclusively  assert,  he  in  no  way  falls  short  of  the  hap¬ 
piness  of  Zeus;”  cf.  He  Prov.  6,  5,  n.  Yet,  with  what  may  be 
called  a  necessary  inconsistency,  Seneca,  and  others  like  him,  set 
forth  this  model  wise  man  as  worthy  of  every  effort  to  imitate ; 
cf  Matt.  V.  48. — istum:  cf  Z.  127, 701. — pro  optimo  .  .  .  mains  : 
so  Epist.  42, 1,  2,  where  Seneca  asserts  that  such  a  phoenix  (as  a 
really  good  man)  could  scarcely  be  found  in  five  hundred  years, 
and  that  the  one  of  whom  his  friend  Lucilius  writes  him  was  a 
good  man  only  of  the  second  rank,  i.  e.  only  comparatively  good, 
inasmuch  as  one  wholly  good  could  not  be  found  ;  cf  Hor.  Sat.  i. 
3,  68 ;  He  Const.  Sap.  7, 1. 

3.  Platonas  et  Xeiiopliontas :  the  accus.  plur.  of  Greek  words 
is  frequently  found  in  as  instead  of  es. — Socratici  fetus :  the  stu¬ 
dent  may  consult  here  with  profit  Zeller’s  able  work,  “  Socrates 
and  the  Socratic  Schools.” — Catoiiis  :  cf  He  Pror.  2,  9,  n.  ;  also. 
Class.  Diet. — opus  erat  .  .  .  dehuit :  observe  use  of  synonyms ; 
the  former  expresses  a  want  that  is  indispensable  or  requisite  for 
obtaining  some  end  or  object;  the  latter  expresses  the  moral 
obligations  racting  upon  the  person  (Cato)  to  satisfy  a  claim  upon 
him,  quibus  se  adprdbaret,  etc. ;  vid.  Doderlein’s  &  Ramshorn’s  Lat. 
Synon. — in  quibus,  etc.,  i.  e.  whose  evil  power  he  might  either 
break  down  or  at  least  resist ;  Lips. — 4.  omnia  .  .  .  placet,  who 
sigh  at  everything,  and  to  whom  every  circumstance  furnishes  ground 


240 


NOTES. 


of  complaint. — nulla  non :  cf.  De  Bre'o.  Vit.  2, 1,  n.  numquam  non. — 
licet,  although.,  with  tamen  following. — tranquillitati,  etc. :  Lips, 
aptly  remarks,  a  countenance  cloudy,  and,  so  to  speak,  almost 
always  rainy,  disturbs  peace  or  serenity  of  mind. 

Tin. — 1.  maximam  .  .  .  materiam:  cf.  1  Tim.  vi.  10,  “The 
love  of  money  is  the  root  of  all  evil.” — quanto  levior  .  .  .  per- 
(lere :  Plato  remarked  to  one  who  was  always  pining  for  wealtli, 
“  Thou  wretch,  if  thou  wouldst  be  happy,  endeavor  not  to  increase 
thy  store,  but  to  diminish  thy  desire;”  cf.  Stobaeus, 

— eo  .  .  .  quo  :  cf.  M.  270,  obs.  1. — 2,  Bion  :  not  the  Greek  poet, 
but  the  Scythian  philosopher,  surnamed  Borysthenites,  who  flour¬ 
ished  about  B.c.  300.  He  studied  philosojdiy  at  Athens,  and  at 
first  attached  himself  to  the  Cynic  sect  under  Crates;  afterwards 
he  became  a  disciple  of  Theodoras,  and  finally  of  Theophrastus 
the  Peripatetic.  He  was  somewhat  brilliant  as  a  wit,  but  was 
notoriously  profligate  and  an  unbeliever  in  the  gods.  Cic.  {Tusc. 
Disp.  iii.  26)  records  one  of  his  witticisms,  that  “it  is  useless  to 
tear  our  hair  when  we  are  in  grief,  since  sorrow  is  not  cured  by 
baldness.”  Vid.  Class.  Diet. — calvis  quain  coinatis,  for  comatis 
quam  calvis;  tliis  figure,  hyperbaton,  especially  in  the  form 
hysteron-proterou,  is  quite  frequent  in  Seneca;  cf.  H.  636,  5. — 
calvis  .  .  .  comatis,  i.  e.  the  poor  .  .  .  the  rich. — licet,  with  ut 
understood  and  subj.,  M.  361. — sine  sensu  revelli  potest;  so 
Antiphon,  the  philosopher  and  orator,  wrote  of  the  miserly, 
“When  they  take  and  use  of  their  hoarded  money,  they  suffer 
no  less  pain  than  if  they  were  to  lose  a  piece  of  their  flesh.” — 
respexit,  has  loohed  upon  with  favor  ;  said  of  the  gods  when  they 
turned  a  propitious  eye  upon  any  project.  Thus  the  Romans 
worshipped  Fortune,  as  Fortuna  respiciens. 

3.  Diogenes :  the  Cynic  philosopher,  who  despised  all  posses¬ 
sions,  in  imitation  of  his  master  Antisthenes.  He  clad  himself  in 
coarse,  shabby  garments,  lived  on  what  he  received  in  public, 
and  was  not  at  all  abashed  at  the  presence  of  Alexander  the 
Great,  of  whom  he  asked  no  favor  but  to  get  out  of  his  sunshine. 
Vid.  Class.  Diet. — et  effecit  .  .  .  posset,  and  so  managed  that 
nothing  could  he  taken  from  Am.— paupertiitenij  inopiain,  egesta- 
teui ;  cf  Doderlein’s  &  Ramshorii’s  Latin  Synonyms ;  also,  Epist. 


DE  TEANQUILLITATE  ANIMI.  VIII.  3-5. 


241 


17, 4,  5. — Aut  ego  fallor  .  .  ,  possit,  either  I  am  deceived^  or  it  is 
a  marh  of  Icing  ship  ^  that  there  is  one  man  who  cannot  he  harmed 
among  the  covetous^  defrauders^  rohhers^  etc. — Si  quis,  etc. :  cf. 
Xenophon,  Memor.  i.  6,  10. — illis  .  .  .  sint,  H.  387. — alieno  :  in 
sense  of  ignotus^  or  ignohilis^  ignoble^  mean^  low.  The  alienus  colo- 
nus  was  the  slave  emj)loyed  to  till  the  land  under  the  ergastula- 
rius,  or  keeper  of  the  ergastulum.  This  was  the  prison  attached 
to  the  Roman  farms  throughout  Italy,  and  was  regarded  as  nec¬ 
essary  because  of  the  great  number  of  slaves  used  to  till  the  land 
after  the  subjugation  of  Italy ;  Lips.  Cf.  Diet.  Antiq. ;  Plutarch, 
Tib.  Gracchus. — in  foro,  i.  e.  in  the  ban\  as  the  banks  were  located 
around  the  forum. 

4.  respice  agedum  mnndnm,  just  hole  at  the  heavens. — decs : 
the  ancient  pagans  identified  heroes  and  gods  with  the  heavenly 
bodies. — Demetriiim,  called  Pompeianus.^  because  he  was  a  freed- 
man  of  Pompey  the  Great.  Plutarch  tells  an  amusing  story  of 
Cato,  who,  on  one  occasion,  being  on  a  visit  to  Antioch,  and  find¬ 
ing  the  people  along  the  road  in  festal  attire  and  the  magistrates 
in  white  robes,  took  the  whole  afiair  as  an  honor  intended  es¬ 
pecially  for  himself.  Shortly  after  he  ascertained,  to  his  disgust, 
that  everybody  was  on  the  lookout  for  Demetrius,  and  the  philos¬ 
opher  exclaimed,  “O  wretched  city  that  I  am  entering!”  (Plut. 
Pompey  and  Cato  Uticensis).  —  Numerus  illi  cotidie,  etc.:  very 
suggestive  of  the  large  numbers  of  slaves  among  the  Romans. 
Pliny  speaks  of  one  man  having  five  thousand ;  Athenaeus  states 
that  some  owned  as  many  as  ten  and  twenty  thousand.  On  the 
position,  occupations,  etc.,  of  slaves  among  the  Romans,  vid.  Guhl 
&  Koner’s  “  The  Life  of  the  Greeks  and  Romans,”  p.  511-519. — 
vicarii,  i.  e.  slaves  of  slaves.,  a  species  of  ownership  not  uncommon 
in  that  day. — cella  laxior :  slaves  being  very  numerous,  most 
of  them  occupied  small  closets.  The  best  were  favored  with  a 
cella  laxior.  The  monks  of  the  Middle  Ages  called  their  small 
chambers  cellae.,  cells.,  which  word  long  ago  passed  into  English. 

5.  At  Diogeni  serviis  unicus  ftigit :  cf.  §  3,  n.  ;  Diog.  Laert. 
vi.  55. — immo,  nay ;  in  a  reply  generally  denotes  the  opposite  of 
what  the  question  implies  to  be  the  opinion  of  the  questioner. 
Hence  sometimes  equivalent  to  yes^  sometimes  to  no.  It  also 
affirms  with  emphasis. — vestiaidum,  i.  e.  money  to  buy  clothes, 


242 


NOTES. 


or,  iu  general,  maintenance ;  cf.  Be  Benef.  iii.  21. — detestantium, 
sc.  serwrmn. — 6.  qui  nihil  ulli  dehet,  who  is  under  obligations  to 
no  one;  i.  e.  who  has  neither  a  household  establishment  nor 
slaves  to  provide  for.  Seneca  is  not  to  be  understood  as  favor¬ 
ing  niggardliness  or  moroseness  in  preference  to  cheerful  domes¬ 
tic  life ;  neither  does  he  approve  of  absolute  poverty  and  mean¬ 
ness,  but  only  such  frugality  as  is  freed  from  the  cares  of  wealth, 
troops  of  dependents,  etc.  Cf.  n.  below,  optimus  pecuniae^  etc. — 
nisi  quod,  except  in  so  far  as,  or,  except  that;  cf.  Z.  627 ;  M.  442. — 
Habiliora  sunt  corpora,  etc.,  i.  e.  those  are  more  suitable  and 
available  for  warfare,  not  those  who  are  colossal  in  size  and  loose 
in  build,  but  who  are  of  moderate  stature  and  compact  build. — 
in  bello,  v.  1.  bella,  or  pusilla. — contrahi :  cf.  Virg.  Aen.  xii,  491. — 
Optimus  pecuniae  modus  est :  cf.  Epist.  2,  5,  where  Seneca  says 
that  the  proper  amount  of  wealth  is  to  have  first  what  is  neces¬ 
sary,  and  then  what  is  sufficient.  Lips,  quotes  Plato,  who,  when 
asked,  “  How  much  property  should  a  man  possess  ?”  replied, 
“  Just  enough  to  keep  him  from  scheming  or  planning,  and  place 
him  beyond  the  reach  of  necessity.”  Epictetus  also  holds  that 
the  body  is  to  be  the  measure  of  wealth,  just  as  a  shoe  should  be 
neither  too  large  nor  too  small  for  the  foot. 

IX. — 1.  sine  qua  .  .  .  non  satis  patent,  icithout  which  not 
any  riches  suffice,  and  also  not  any  riches  are  attainable  that  are  at 
all  satisfactory  to  us. — nec  .  .  .  non:  cf.  M.  460,  obs.  1. — et  usus 
.  .  .  nietiri,  i.  e.  to  estimate  a  thing  by  its  power  to  confer  prac¬ 
tical  benefit,  not  by  its  power  to  embellisli. — libido  .  .  .  fluat, 
let  our  desires  or  longings  go  out  after  necessary  objects. — membris 
nostris  inniti :  wealthy  and  luxurious  citizens  were  in  the  habit 
of  being  carried  about  in  a  sort  of  palanquin  or  litter.  The 
slaves  who  supported  it  were  called  lecticarii,  and  the  couch 
itself  lectica.  For  an  interesting  chapter  on  this  mode  of  loco¬ 
motion  among  the  ancients,  cf.  Kitto’s  Biblical  Illustrations  (Job 
and  the  Poetical  Books),  p.  407,  Am.  ed. 

2.  gulani  4eniperare :  with  accus.  temperare  signifies  to  con¬ 
trol;  cf.  Arnold’s  Latin  Prose  Comp.  220. — etiam  si  .  .  .  adhi- 
bere :  this  may  be  regarded  as  a  parenthetical  clause ;  then  all 
the  infinitives  in  the  passage  will  depend  upon  discamus. — id 


DE  TRANQUILLITATE  ANIMI.  IX.  2-5. 


243 


ag'ere,  to  exert  (me^s  self;  cf.  Z.  614  b,  748. — a  nobis  =  «  nostris 
animis. — magna  armamenta  pandentibus:  a  beautiful  figure 
drawn  from  a  ship — “  excessive  riches,  like  huge  and  unmanage¬ 
able  rudders,  sink  rather  than  direct.”  Lipsius  also  quotes  De- 
mocrates,  an  old  philosopher,  as  saying :  “  Long  garments  embar¬ 
rass  the  body ;  excessive  riches  the  mind.” — tela,  i.  Q.fortunae. 

3.  Quidni  consulitur,  i.  e.  why  is  it  not  made  profitable  to  us 
by  reflection.  —  sine  populo,  i.  e.  without  guests.  —  sed  ...  flec- 
tendum  est :  the  metae.,  goals.,  were  turning-points  at  each  end  of 
the  Roman  circus,  around  which  the  horses  and  chariots  had  to 
turn  seven  times.  Thus  the  one  who  had  the  inner  track,  and 
who  turned  nearest  the  metae.,  would,  other  things  being  equal, 
finish  the  course  first  and  win  the  race. 

4.  habet,  v.  1.  hdbebo ;  inpensa.,  cost.,  or  expense.,  is  here  subject  of 
halet. — quaruin  dominus  vix  .  .  .  perlegit :  many  wealthy  Ro¬ 
mans  heaped  together  large  collections  of  books ;  but,  in  general, 
the  possession  of  a  large  library  was  no  certain  index  of  the  lit¬ 
erary  attainments  of  its  owner — often  quite  the  reverse ;  and 
frequently  it  happened  that  a  man  never  read  even  the  titles 
{indices)  of  all  his  books. — turba,  sc.  lihrorum.,  a  multitude  of 
hooTcs ;  cf.  Epist.  2,  2,  3,  where,  among  other  good  advice,  Seneca 
says,  “Read  always  the  most  approved  authors,  and  reserve  some 
particular  sentiment  for  the  day’s  meditation.” — Quadraginta 
milia  .  .  .  arserunt,  v.  1.  quadringenta  milia.  Under  Demetrius 
Phalereus  (expelled  from  Athens  about  b.c.  307)  the  Alexandrian 
library  increased  to  50,000  volumes.  Afterwards,  according  to 
some  authorities,  it  reached  the  number  of  700,000  volumes,  in¬ 
cluding  in  its  vast  compass  nearly  all  the  best  works  in  Grecian, 
Roman,  Indian,  and  Egyptian  literature.  The  largest  part  was 
destroyed  during  the  siege  of  Alexandria  by  Julius  Caesar.  In 
A.D.  389  the  Serapium  (temple  of  Jupiter  Serapis)  was  burned, 
and  the  300,000  volumes  therein  were  partly  burned  and  partly 
dispersed  under  the  direction  of  Theophilus,  archbishoj)  of  Alex¬ 
andria.  Vid.  Gibbon’s  “  Decline  and  Fall,”  etc.,  vol.  iii.  p.  144 ;  v. 
228,  Am.  ed. — Livius :  Titus  Livy,  the  historian.  This  account 
is  probably  given  in  book  112,  now  lost. 

5.  serYilium  literarum :  the  common  branches  of  learning,  as 
reading,  writing,  etc.,  as  opposed  to  liberales  literae.,  the  higher 


244 


NOTES. 


and  more  advanced  culture.  Some  suppose  tlie  serviles  literae  to 
refer  to  the  marks  or  characters  branded  into  the  arms  of  slaves, 
as  if  the  ignari  of  the  text  were  unable  to  read  these. — 6.  Hones- 
tius  .  .  .  quam  .  .  .  eifuderint:  quam  is  followed  by  subj.  either 
with  or  without  ut ;  H.  502,  2. — liocce  inpensae,  i.  e.  for  books; 
another  reading  is,  m  hos  inpensas  .  .  .  effude7'im. — in  Corinthia, 
sc.  msa ;  those  made  at  Corinth,  of  gold,  silver,  bronze,  were 
highly  prized  by  the  Romans;  cf.  De  Brev.  Vit.  12,  1,  N.  -Quid 
babes  cur  ignoscas,  what  reason  have  you  for  pardoning.  The 
subj.  is  used  after  cwr,  quamdbrem.,  quare.,  when  a  phrase,  asking 
the  reason  for  which,  precedes ;  M.  363,  obs.  3 ;  Z.  562. — armaria, 
cupboards,  for  the  preservation  of  books.  As  ancient  books  con¬ 
sisted  of  rolls,  the  armai'ia  were  used  for  keeping,  not  for  using 
them  on  the  spot.  Hence  ancient  libraries  do  not  seem  to  have 
required  as  much  space  as  those  in  our  day.  Seneca  (below,  §  7) 
appears  to  refer  to  open  repositories  along  the  walls,  reaching 
up  to  the  ceiling,  tecto  tenus  exstructa  loculamenta.  Cf.  Becker’s 
“  Callus,”  p.  234 ;  Guhl  &  Koner’s  “  The  Life  of  the  Greeks  and 
Romans,”  pp.  466, 529.— citro,  v.  1.  cedro. — corpora :  used  by  later 
Latin  and  Middle-Age  writers  to  mean  the  works  of  an  author, 
similar  to  our  expression  “  body  of  divinity.”  Some  read,  opera. 
— cui  Tolumiuum  .  .  .  titulique:  the  titles  and  frontispieces  of 
the  books  of  the  time  were  often  richly  ornamented.  Nor  did 
the  custom  die  away  with  the  luxury  and  glory  of  Rome,  but 
was  sedulously  retained  by  the  monks  in  later  centuries  in  their 
copying  the  Scriptures,  missals,  and  classical  writers ;  this  can 
readily  be  seen  at  Wolfenblittel  and  other  libraries  on  the  Con¬ 
tinent. 

7.  cum  imagiuibus  suis,  etc. :  Pliny  (Aaf.  JTM  xxiv.  2)  relates 
that  gold,  silver,  and  brazen  images  of  great  authors  were  placed 
in  libraries,  a  custom  first  introduced  by  Asinius  Pollio.  The 
ceilings  of  the  room  were  not  infrequently  fretted  wi^h  gold  and 
ornamental  glass  of  difierent  figures.  The  fioor  was  of  Carystic 
marble,  to  aid  in  strengthening  the  eyes  by  its  dark  color. 

X. — 1,  ouera  et  iupedimeuta  crurum,  i.  e.  chains  and  shackles 
on  the  legs. — facere  {vita^n)  —  agere  (vitam).  —  2.  Nullo  melius 
uomiue  .  .  .  meruit,  for  no  I'eason  has  nature  desei'ved  more  gratv 


DE  TRANQUILLITATE  ANIMT.  X.  2-XI.  1. 


245 


tude  from  us. — Omiies  .  .  .  copiilati  siiinns :  a  figure  taken  from 
tlie  custom  of  fiisteuing  a  prisoner  to  liis  keeper,  the  right  arm 
of  the  former  being  attached  to  the  left  of  the  latter.  St.  Peter 
was  secured  to  a  keeper  on  each  side  of  him  (Acts  xii.  6) ;  St. 
Paul  was  so  fastened  to  the  soldier  that  kept  him  (Acts  xxviii. 
16).  Of.  De  I?‘a,  hi.  8,  4.  —  aurea  catena:  referring  to  kings, 
nobles,  rich  men,  etc.,  who  may  rightly  be  regarded  as  slaves  to 
wealth  and  rank. 

3.  adligatique  .  .  .  adligaverunt :  cf  Epist.  5,  6  —  “  as  the 
same  chain  binds  together  both  the  prisoner  and  the  soldier 
(who  keeps  him),  so  those  things  which  are  wholly  unlike  march 
side  by  side;  fear  follows  (and  go«s  along  with)  hope.” — qui- 
busdain  sua,  sc.  imperia.  The  sentiment  is  twofold :  some  are 
under  the  domination  of  their  appetites  and  passions;  others,  as 
rulers  and  magistrates,  are  weighed  down  by  their  own  authority, 
their  very  dignities  becoming,  as  it  were,  a  burden. — quosdaiti 
sacerdotia:  certain  priests  were  prohibited  from  leaving  the 
city,  such  as  the  priests  of  Jupiter,  Mars,  Quirinus  ;  others  could 
not  leave  Italy,  lest  the  sacred  rites  should  be  intermitted;  cf. 
Livy,  ii.  52. 

4.  Exig’uae  saepe  areae,  etc.,  i.  e.  a  skilful  writer  will  write 

much  on  very  small  tablets;  exiguae  =  small  tablets. — 

pedem  =::  or  solum  ;  others  suggest  —pedaturam  or  mensu- 

ram. — fereiitis,  fov  ferentes  ;  on  present  mode  of  spelling,  cf.  Be 
Prov.  3,  7,  N. — 5.  Non  sunt  .  .  .  permittamns  :  cf.  /m,  iii.  7, 2. 
— speiqne  nostrae  adliidentia,  things  that  give  encouragement  to 
our  hopes. — praerupta,  dangerous. — 6.  Multi  .  .  .  sunt,  i.  e.  kings, 
princes,  etc.;  cf  Be  Clement,  i.  8,  2.  —  suffixos :  as  Prometheus 
was  fastened  to  a  rock. — liumana:  some  add  lege  {lex). — secun- 
dos  :  others  read  sequentes  or  seguiores.^  i.  e.  tristiores. 

XI. — 1.  nec  pedetentiin,  v.  1.  et  pedetentim. — nec  habet  .  .  . 
timeat:  cf  M.  363.  —  mancipia  :  cf  1,  5,  n.  —  sed  .  .  .  quoqne: 
this  is  rarely  found,  and  when  used  denotes  mer^  an  addition, 
and  not  a  rising  to  something  more  imj)ortant;  M.  461  a. — pre- 
caria :  precarium  is  that  which  is  given  to  enjoy  at  the  will  of 
the  donor — a  thing  committed  to  our  care,  but  which  is  likely  at 
any  time  to  be  demanded ;  hence  the  force  of  reposcentibus.  As 

L  2 


24G 


NOTES. 


ill  many  otlier  of  our  derived  words,  'precarious  is  a  general  term, 
taking  its  rise  from  a  particular  thought. — vivitque  .  .  .  reddi- 
turus;  cf  Consol,  ad  Marc.  10;  Be  Prov.  5. — commodatus,  lent; 
used  of  things  that  are  themselves  in  natura  to  be  returned,  while 
mutuum  dare  is  used  of  things  for  which  an  equivalent  is  given, 
— 2,  Magua  .  .  .  mercede,  a  great  expense  of  time,  care,  and 
labor. — factum,  sc.  opere  et  arte.^  the  expression  for  plate. 

3.  Adpellaverit,  si  omitted,  as  often  with  fut.  perf.  In  such 
instances  it  is  by  no  means  certain  that  the  sentence  should  not 
be  a  question ;  Z.  784. — auimum  meliorem :  a  mind  improved 
by  the  practice  of  virtue  and  acquisition  of  wisdom. — Reverti 
uude  veneris :  the  Stoics  lield  that  the  soul  of  man  was  mate¬ 
rialistic,  describing  it  sometimes  as  lire,  sometimes  as  breath,  dif¬ 
fused  through  the  body,  and  forming  a  bond  of  union  for  the 
body  ;  cf.  Zeller’s  “  Stoics,”  etc.,  p.  198-201.  They  also  thought 
that  after  death  the  soul  would  return  in  coelum  et  astra  (the 
weltseele  of  the  Germans) ;  Lips. — spiritus  in  servilia  numeran- 
dus,  i.  e.  our  lives  must  be  numbered  among  the  things  that  do 
not  belong  to  us. — servilia,  v.  1.  serritia. — ait  Cicero :  cf.  pro  Mi- 
lone.,  34 ;  also.  Be  Ira.,  i.  2,  3. — prae  se  feruiit :  gladiators  usually 
manifested  the  greatest  contempt  for  death,  and  received  the 
sword  {i-ecipere  ferrum)  with  much  firmness.  Their  fate,  how¬ 
ever,  rested  with  the  people,  who  pressed  or  turned  down  the 
thumb  if  they  wished  them  to  live,  or  turned  the  thumb  up  if 
they  desired  them  to  die. 

4.  animose,  spiritedly  ;  cf  Trench,  “  Study  of  Words,”  p.  59, 
where  he  remarks  on  the  English  word  animosity,  as  expressive 
of  enmity  and  hate,  these  too  often  stirring  men  to  a  lively  and 
vigorous  activity. — vivo :  Lips,  conjectures  vims,  which  is  cer¬ 
tainly  consistent  with  the  thought ;  pro  homine  might  then  be 
rendered  worthy  of  a  man.  which  is  the  meaning  of  the  words, — 
5.  Quicquid  eiiiiu  fieri  potest  .  .  .  iiiolliet :  very  similar  to  a 
maxim  of  Socrates,  “  as  those  who  are  sailing  in  a  serene  and 
peaceful  sea  have  in  readiness  all  things  that  are  useful  for 
safety  in  a  tempest,  so  those  who  are  wise,  in  prosperity,  make 
ready  protection  against  the  day  of  adversity.” — Sciebam  :  cf 
Consol,  ad  Marc.  9. — conclamatum  est,  i.  e.  over  the  remains  of 
the  dead.  —  iumaturas  .  .  .  praecessit:  it  was  the  custom  to 


DE  TRANQUILLITATE  ANIMI.  XI.  5-8. 


247 


attend  funeral  processions  of  children  at  night  with  torches  and 
wax  tapers. — capulus :  Fickert  adopts  this  as  on  the  whole  the 
best  reading ;  others  read  copulatas. 

6.  mali  .  .  .  auctoris,  repwter  of  enil^  or  of  'bad  news. — Publius ; 
JSyrns,  so  called  from  the  country  of  his  birth,  was  a  slave  manu¬ 
mitted  by  his  master,  whose  name  he  took,  and  hence  is  known 
as  Publius  Syrus.  He  flourished  about  b.c.  45,  and  became  cele¬ 
brated  at  Rome  as  a  mimographer.  His  mimes  were  early  com¬ 
mitted  to  writing,  and  there  is  extant  a  collection  of  about  one 
thousand  lines,  in  iambic  and  trochaic  measures,  containing  prov¬ 
erbs,  apophthegms,  and  witty  sayings.  He  exhibits  a  profound 
insight  into  human  nature,  and  his  wit  is  unsurpassed  by  writers 
of  any  age.  Cf.  Dunlop’s  “  Roman  Literature,”  vol.  i.  p.  332,  Am. 
ed. ;  also.  Class.  Diet. — verba  ad  .  .  .  spectantia ;  the  cavea  was 
the  entire  portion  of  the  theatre  assigned  to  spectators.  The 
senators  and  other  dignitaries  occupied  the  lowest  part,  the 
middle  classes  the  next  above,  and  the  pld)s  the  highest.  Henee 
verba  here  signifies  sueh  vulgar  commonplaces  as  suit  the  lowest 
soeiety. — cotliurno  .  .  .  sipario,  the  buskin  .  .  .  the  smaller  cur- 
tain.,  by  metonymy  for  tragedy  and  comedy ;  cf.  Hor.  Ars  Poet. 
278,  etc. — et  hoc  ait :  ei,  but  or  'but  also.  In  a  negative  proposi¬ 
tion,  followed  by  an  affirmative,  when  the  same  thought  is  ex¬ 
pressed,  et  is  used  where  we  use  but ;  cf.  M.  433,  obs.  2. — Cuivis 
potest,  etc. :  Lipsius  quotes  a  similar  sentiment  from  Xenophon, 

TrdvTa  dvQpMTTOV  del  Trpoodoic^v  UiravTa. 

7.  praetextam  et  augurale  et  lora  patricia:  praetexta.^  sc. 
toga.,  was  the  cloak  worn  by  the  - higher  magistrates  and  the 
priests ;  augurale.,  the  augur’s  staff  (Lips,  prefers  auguralem.,  sc. 
togam)  ;  lora  patricia.,  the  shoes  or  slippers  of  red  Parthian  leath¬ 
er,  worn  in  the  days  of  the  republic  by  the  three  highest  magis¬ 
trates,  the  consul,  praetor,  and  curule  aedile ;  but  in  later  times 
used  by  all  the  senators,  marked  with  the  ivory  crescent,  or  Ro¬ 
man  c,  which  stood  for  centum.,  as  that  was  the  original  number 
of  senators. — exportatio  :  a  reading  much  disputed ;  Lips,  con- 
jectures  exsputatio.,  an  expression  of  supreme  contempt. 

8.  proculcatio :  post- Aug., derived  from  pro  and  calx.,  in  refer¬ 
ence  to  the  ancient  custom  of  kings  putting  their  foot  upon  the 
necks  of  the  conquered.  This  practice  in  time  yielded  to  that 


248 


'NOTES. 


of  compelling  captives  to  pass  under  the  yoke;  hence,  to  subju¬ 
gate. — dommus,  i.  e.  tyrannus.—  carnifex,  the  public  executioner  at 
Rome.  His  office  was  considered  so  degrading  and  odious  that 
he  was  not  allowed  to  reside  within  the  city,  but  lived  outside 
the  porta  metia.^  near  the  place  where  slaves  were  punished.  Cf. 
Diet.  Antiq. — alieiia  g’enua :  suggestive  of  the  position  of  cap¬ 
tives,  kneeling  and  stretching  out  their  hands  to  their  captors. — 
iiumquid  :  an  interrog.  particle,  paid  in  this  case  having  no  mean¬ 
ing;  Z.  851,  note;  M. 451  b;  num  expects  the  answer  no. — Poin- 
peio,  V.  1.  Ptolemaeo.  This  Pompey  was,  according  to  Lij)sius, 
j^robably  a  great-grandson  of  Pompey  the  Great,  and  son  of  that 
Sextius  Pompey  who  was  consul  with  Sextus  Apuleius  during 
the  last  year  of  the  reign  of  Augustus.  Being  a  relative  of  Au¬ 
gustus,  he  w^as  of  course  related  to  Caligula. — Caius,  i.  e.  Caius 
Caesar  Caligula,  emperor  a.d.  37-41,  son  of  Germanicus  and 
Agrippina,  grand-daughter  of  Augustus,  and  nephew  of  Tiberius, 
whom  he  succeeded ;  cf.  Glass.  Diet. ;  also,  Merivale,  “  History  of 
the  Romans  under  the  Empire,”  vol.  v.  p.  166,  etc.  The  incident 
here  mentioned,  which  is  in  keeping  with  Caligula’s  character, 
is  valuable  historically,  being  recorded  only  by  Seneca. — aperu- 
isset  .  .  .  doinuiii,  i.  e.  he  had  received  Pompey  into  the  palace, 
ostensibly  conferring  a  great  honor  upon  him.-^tot  flumiiia,  etc. : 
a  reference  again  to  the  wealth  and  extensive  domains  of  some  of 
the  Roman  citizens  at  that  time ;  cf.  Epist.  89,  20 ;  Be  Benef.  iii.  8. 
— lieres,  i.  c.  Caligula. — publicum  fuiius :  cf.  Diet.  Antiq.  Lips, 
expresses  wonder  that  neither  Suetonius  nor  Dio  Cassius  makes 
mention  of  this  incident,  and  exclaims,  “  Who  can  enumerate  all 
the  enormities  of  that  monster  !” 

9.  Seianus  :  Aelius  Sejanus,  the  corrupt  minister  of  the  gloomy 
Tiberius,  who  for  eight  years  held  absolute  sway  over  the  em¬ 
peror.  On  finding  that  Sejanus  was  purposing  to  dethrone  him, 
Tiberius  .gave  secret  orders  to  put  him  to  death.  The  Roman 
populace  tore  his  body  in  pieces,  and  cast  them  into  the  Tiber. 
Cf.  Class.  Diet.  —  Croesiim,  the  king  of  Lydia,  famed  for  his 
wealth,  was  conquered  by  Cyrus  the  Great,  and  ordered  to  be 
burned.  While  on  the  funeral  pile  he  called  out,  “  Solon,  Solon,” 
several  times.  Cyrus  having  asked  the  reason  of  this,  Croesus 
stated  that  Solon  had  in  former  years  warned  him  in  regard  to 


DE  TRANQUILLI'rATE  AKIMI.  XI.  9-XII.  2.  249 

the  uncertainty  of  human  felicity.  The  Persian  monarch  was 
struck  with  the  truth  of  this  sentiment,  and  so  spared  the  life 
of  Croesus,  and  made  him  his  friend  and  counsellor.  Vid.  the 
story,  as  told  by  Herodotus,  i.  29-33,  86-90. — ad  lugurtham  .  .  . 
spectavit :  Jugurtha  was  the  adopted  son  of  Micipsa,  and,  in  con¬ 
junction  wnth  Adherbal  and  Hiempsal,  king  of  Numidia.  Lips, 
thinks  Seneca  inaccurate  in  attributing  to  one  year  what  it  had 
taken  five  to  accomplish.  It  is  true  the  entire  war  lasted  five 
•  years,  but  Caius  Marius  was  in  chief  command  only  during  the 
last  and  successful  year,  b.c.  107-106.  Hence  Seneca  is  correct 
in  embracing  the  change  he  mentions  wfithin  one  year.  Vid. 
Class.  Diet. — intra  .  .  .  quaiii,  within  that  xei'y  year. 

10.  Ptolemamm  :  king  of  Mauretania  (ab.  a.d.  18-40),  grand¬ 
son  of  Mark  Antony  and  Cleopatra,  and  thus  a  descendant  of  the 
Ptolemies  of  Egypt.  He  w^as  summoned  to  Rome,  and  soon  after 
put  to  death  by  Caligula,  who  coveted  his  great  wealth. — Mith- 
ridates :  one  of  the  Arsacidae,  and  placed  upon  the  throne  of 
Armenia  by  Tiberius,  a.d.  35.  Caligula  threw  him  into  prison ; 
Claudius  released  him,  and  sent  him  back  to  Armenia,  a.d.  47, 
where  he  reigned  till  expelled  and  put  to  death  by  his  nephew, 
Rhadamisthus,.A.D.  52.— alter,  i.  e.  Mithridates:  alter,  Ptolemy. 
—  ut  ,  .  .  mitteretur,  i.  e.  in  good  faith,  for  he  was  slain  on  the 
road  by  Caligula’s  orders,  for  the  reason  given  above. — 11.  ne 
aut  .  .  .  laboremus,  that  we  neither  labor  over  needless  things^  nor 
spend  time  in  vain. 

XII. — 1 .  semper  .  .  .  similes :  cf,  Epist.  98,  8,  where  he  calls 
this  class  of  persons  satagios^  over-anxious.  —  formicis  :  a  rather 
unfortunate  illustration,  since  the  fact  is  not  as  Mere  stated;  cf. 
Prov.  vi.  6 ;  xxx.  25  ;  also,  Hor.  Sat.  i.  1,  33.-2.  inquietam  iner- 
tiam :  this  whole  picture  of  busy  idlers  is  so  graphic  and  true 
that  it  applies  as  well  in  the  19th  as  in  any  preceding  century, — 
iudicium,  sponsalia :  Fickert,  in  a  note,  gives  it  as  his  opinion 
that  perhaps  ad  should  precede  each  of  these  words.  Haas.e  in¬ 
serts  ad. — sponsalia :  these  were  an  agreement  to  marry,  made 
in  such  form  as  to  give  each  party  a  right  of  action  in  case  of 
non-performance,  and  the  offending  party  was  condemned  in  such 
■  damages  as  the  judge  deemed  right.  They  might  be  contracted 


250 


NOTES. 


by  those  not  under  seven  years  of  age.  Cf.  Diet.  Antiq.  (Matri- 
nionium). — lecticam :  the  lecUcae  were  of  two  kinds,  for  con¬ 
venience  of  the  living  and  for  carrying  the  dead.  Some  were 
of  great  beauty  and  costliness.  The  lectica  on  which  the  body 
of  Augustus  was  carried  to  the  grave  was  made  of  ivory  and 
gold,  and  was  covered  with  purple  and  gold  drapery.  Cf.  Diet. 
Antiq. 

3.  lux  orta :  it  was  a  Koman  custom  to  pay  visits  of  respect, 
etc.,  at  dawn.  —  nomenculatores :  a  class  of  persons  at  Rome 
whose  business  it  was  to  know  the  names  of  all  the  citizens. 
They  were  frequently  employed  by  candidates  for  olRce,  in  order 
that  these  might  be  able  to  greet  even  perfect  strangers  as  old 
acquaintances.  They  were  also  in  the  service 'of  the  wealthier 
joeople,  to  stand  at  the  front  door  and  announce  to  the  inmates 
of  the  house  the  names  of  those  who  had  left  their  morning 
greetings. — 4.  auscultatio,  etc. :  in  other  words,  a  'prying  curi¬ 
osity. — quae  .  .  .  audiuntur,  i.  e.  matters  pertaining  to  rulers  or 
princes ;  Lips.  —  Democrituui :  cf.  2,  3,  n.  —  ita  coepisse,  etc. : 
Democritus  begins  his  work  On  Peace  of  Mind  {irepi  evOvyiag) 
with  the  words  quoted. 

XIII. — 1.  This  short  chapter  is  a  continuation  of  the  thought 
in  the  preceding. — iiegotiatio  mihi  respoiidebit,  my  l)usiness  will 
answer. my  expectations.' — 2.  iiec  illi  omnia  ut  voluit  cedunt,  nor 
do  all  things  turn  out  as  he  has  wished.  ^ 

Xiy.— 1.  Faciles  etiam  iios  f  e"re  debemus  .  .  .  indulge- 
amus,  i.  e.  we  ought  to  culti\aio  a  complaisant,  yielding  dis- 
joosition,  that  we  may  not  become  too  obstinate  in  holding  on  to 
our  established  ideas  and  affairs. — transeamusque  in  ea,  etc. : 
Lips,  quotes  from  Aristotle  a  similar  sentiment;  also,  a  fragment 
of  Aristonymus,  who  says,  “  It  is  the  office  of  a  good  pilot  to  suit 
his  vessel  to  the  changes  of  the  winds,  and  of  a  wise  man  to  the 
changes  of  fortune  or  circumstances.” — necesse  est  ...  sit :  cf. 
M.  373,  obs.  1. 

2.  sibi  adplicet,  etc.  These  Stoic  requirements  only  reached 
the  outer  edge  of  Christianity.  We  find  a  beautiful  self¬ 
repose,  but  not  the  Christian  self-sacrifice ! — uaufragio :  Zeno’s 


DE  TRANQUILLITATE  ANIMT.  XIV.  2-6. 


261 


ship,  with  its  valuable  cargo,  was  wrecked  on  the  Attic, coast, 
when  he  was  about  thirty  years  old.  Forthwith  he  a23plied 
himself  to  the  study  of  philosophy,  heard  Crates,  and  subse¬ 
quently  became  the  founder  of  the  Stoic  school. — Zenon:  cf.  1, 

•  7,  N.  —  Tlieodoro:  a  Cyrenaic  philosoj3her,  usually  called  the 
Atheist,  because  of  the  jjrofane  freedom  with  which  he  spoke 
against  the  gods.  Tliis  caused  his  banishment  from  Cyrene,  and 
also,  at  a  later  date  (b.c.  307),  his  exile  from  Athens.  Thence  he 
went  to  Alexandria,  where  he  was  employed  by  Ptolemy,  king 
of  Egypt,  to  go  as  ambassador  to  Lysimachus,  king  of  Thrace. 
The  same  free  style  of  speech  deeply  offended  Lysimachus,  and 
he  came  near  losing  his  life.  The  answer  recorded  by  Seneca 
saved  him  from  crucifixion.  —  tyrannus,  i.  e.  Lysimachus.  —  et 
quidem,  sc.  earn  after  et.  Is  refers  to  some  noun  going  before, 
and  if  this  noun  is  to  receive  some  additional  predicate,  quidem 
is  used,  meaning,  and  that  too;  Z.  699, — placeas;  for  subj.,  cf.  9, 
6,  N. — mea  iuteresse :  for  ablat.  of  the  jjossessive  instead  of  gen. 
of  personal,  vid.  Arnold’s  Lat.  Prose  Comp.  203, 2. — supra  terram, 
i.  e.  on  the  cross,  as  above  stated. 

3.  Canus  lulius  :  a  Stoic  philosopher,  put  to  death  by  Caligu¬ 
la,  on  a  charge  of  being  a  conspirator  with  Aemilius  Lepidus. 
Observe  that  the  nomen  and  cognomen  are  transposed,  as  is  often 
the  case  in  Tacitus,  Pliny,  etc, — Plialaris  ille,  that  well-lcmwn 
Phalaris  of  our  day,  i.  e.  Caligula.  This  infamous  tyrant  is  .appro¬ 
priately  named  after  the  cruel  and  inhuman  ruler  of  Agrigentum 
in  Sicily  (b.c,  570-554). — duci,  sc.  ad  mortem  or  ad  supplicium. — 
mors  beneflcium :  another  of  the  horrible  brood  of  tyrants  (Tibe¬ 
rius)  is  said  to  have  replied  to  one  begging  for  death,  nondum 
tecum  in  gratiam  redii. — 4.  fides :  Caligula  was  not  accustomed 
to  recall  or  to  commute  sentence  of  death. — decern  medics,  etc, : 
by  a  law  of  Tiberius  ten  days  intervened  between  sentence  and 
execution ;  Dio  Cass.  57.  —  verisimile  non  est  =  it  is  hardly 
credible.  ' 

5.  ex  morte  sua  .  .  .  habere,  to  male  his  own  death  a  subject 
of  investigation. — suns:  Lips,  suggests  waws. — Caesari  deo  nostro: 
a  sarcastic  reference  to  Caligula’s  self-deification. — promisitqiie, 
etc.  He  is  said  to  have  fulfilled  this  promise  by  ai3pearing  in  a 
vision  to  one  of  his  friends,  named  Antiochus. — 6.  Caianae  cla» 


252 


NOTES. 


dis  magna  portio !  i.  e,  you  alone  constitute  a  great  part  of  the 
loss  which  that  tyrant  and  murderer  inflicted  upon  the  world  ! 

XT. — 1.  libidinis  lucra  damnaque,  etc,,  the  advantages  and 
disadvantages  of  desire  are  equally  hateful. — Agitur  animus  in 
nocteni :  this  is  the  result,  he  teaches,  to  which  the  pure  mind  is 
brought  by  reflection  upon  the  vices,  follies,  and  sins  of  mankind : 
gloom,  sadness,  avoidance  and  hatred  of  men  and  the  world, 
without  any  hope  or  promise  of  the  dawn  of  a  better  day,  or  of 
the  coming  of  any  light  upon  the  moral  darkness.  The  image 
in  Seneca’s  mind  is  a  man  overtaken  during  a  journey  by  the 
darkness  of  night.  The  mists  obscure  his  pathway ;  he  becomes 
frightened  ;  and,  instead  of  treading  cautiously,  he  runs  in  every 
direction,  and  flees  from  harmless  objects  (Lips.). — 2.  Deinocri- 
tuni :  cf.  2,  3,  n. — Heraclitum,  born  in  Ephesus,  flourished  ab. 
B.c.  513,  He  wrote  a  work  On  Nature  {ir^pl  (pvaeiog),  and  from 
the  obscurity  of  his  style  he  obtained  the  title  of  (TKoreivog.  He  is 
frequently  termed  “the  weeping  philosojther,”  in  contrast  with 
Democritus.  Cf  Zeller’s  “Stoics,”  etc.,  p.  373-375;  Be  Ira,  ii, 
10,  4  ;  Juv.  Sat.  x.  32. — flehat,  ridehat :  force  of  the  imperf.  ? 

3.  Adice  =  ad  fee. — Bion :  cf.  8,  3,  n. — initiis,  v.  1.  mimicis,  as 

* 

though  Seneca  had  written,  negotia  hominum  sunt  ut  mimica,  to 
correspond  with  the  thought  above,  nihil  magnum,  etc.,  or  wdth 
the  Latin  adage,  vita  mimus ;  cf  Eqnst.  77, — 4.  quia  aliquis 
liliam  elferat,  because  some  one  bears  his  daughter  to  the  grave. — 
efferat :  subj.,  since  the  cause  is  stated  on  some  other  authority 
than  the  writer;  cf.  M.  357;  B,  &  M.  1255, — spectator:  Lipsius 
quotes  aptly  from  Martial  {Eipig.  i.  33)  : 

“Amissnm  non  flet  cum  sola  est  Gellia  patrem, 

Si  qnis  adest,  iussae  prosiliunt  lacrimae. 

Non  lupjet  quisquis  landari,  Gellia,  quaerit, 

Ille  dolet  vere,  qui  sine  teste  dolet.” 

— faciant,  sc.  hoc. — 5.  Rutilius :  cf  Be  Prov.  3,  5,  n. — clientibus, 
i.  e.  Septimius,  who  had  been  an  officer  under  Pompey,  and  Po- 
pilius,  who  had  been  defended  by  Cicero. — simul  de  se  .  .  .  fa- 
cere  :  the  republic  may  be  said  to  have  perished  with  Cato,  inas¬ 
much  as  he  was  the  last  who  seemed  to  embody  in  himself  the 
old  republic. 


DE  TKANQUILLITATE  ANIMT.  XV.  6-15. 


253 


6.  quoruni  .  .  .  placeat  .  .  .  desideretur:  cf.  De  Pra?).  2, 6,  x. 
— Tanto  fortior,  taiito  felicior :  a  formula  of  praise  and  encour¬ 
agement  ;  Lips. — non  tu  dignus  .  .  .  fortuna  posset :  freely  ren¬ 
dered,  not  that  the  gods  deemed  thee  worthy  of  an  ill  fate^  l)ut  unde¬ 
serving  that  fortune  should  have  power  over  thee. — 7.  niauns  inici- 
endae  sunt,  i.  e.  either  to  be  whipped  or  despatched ;  Lips. — 
Regulnm:  cf.  3,  9,  n. — 8.  sub  persona  Yiventium:  said 

of  persons  who  always  live  under  a  mask,  after  the  manner  of 
play-actors. — 9.  revilescat :  post-Aug. — used  only  once. 

10.  Ilia  .  .  .  he  former  .  .  .  the  latter.,  q.  solitudo.,fre- 

quentia. — Cato,  i.  e.  the  younger,  according  to  Plutarch ;  but  Hor. 
{Od.  iii.  21, 11)  speaks  of  the  elder  Cato  as  given  to  this  habit. — 
11.  ad  nuineros,  i.  e.  ad  modules. — incessu  ipso:  cf.  Nat.  Quaest. 
vii.  31,  2,  “  We  move  on  tiptoe  ;  we  do  not  walk,  but  we  glide  or 
slip  along.” — detrimentum,  disgrace.,  dishonor. — meliores  acrio- 
resque :  relaxation  is  a  preparation  for  labor.  The  bow,  the  lyre, 
and  man  are  invigorated  by  rest  (Dio  Chrysostom,  quoted  by 
Lips.). — Ut  fertilibus  .  .  .  imperandum,  i.  e.  as  we  ought  not  to 
force  our  fertile  lands  to  be  productive,  or  tax  them  beyond  their 
strength. — 12.  somnus  .  .  .  mors  erit:  cf.  Plato,  Pe  vii.  c. 
xiii.,  where  similar  sentiments  are  expressed. — cogerentur  = 
gregarentur. 

13.  dixi,  i.  e.  didici ;  Lips. — Pollionem  Asinium:  a  poet  and 
historian,  as  well  as  orator,  of  the  Augustan  age,  born  about  b.c. 
76. — decumani  (or  decimam).,  sc.  horam. — ne  epistulas,  etc. :  ac¬ 
cording  to  Plutarch,  this  was  the  custom  of  Archias,  tyrant  of 
Thebes.  On  one  occasion  while  he  was  banqueting  a  letter  was 
brought  to  him  disclosing  a  conspiracy  against  him.  He  refused 
to  read  it,  with  the  words,  in  crastinum  seria.  Before  morning 
he  was  slain. — interiunxerunt,  sc.  se  a  gravioribus  laboribus ;  cf. 
Epist.  83,  6. — 14.  novam  relationem  :  cf.  Diet.  Antiq.  (Senatus). 
— nox  inmuuis :  those  who  during  the  day  had  been  engaged 
with  the  enemy  were  relieved  from  the  watch  at  night. — quod 
...  sit :  for  subj.,  vid.  Z.  558. 

15.  Liber  .  .  .  inventor  vini,  i.  e.  Bacchus.  —  vegetat:  post- 

Aug.,  enlivens.,  quickens.,  etc. — Solonem :  Solon,  the  lawgiver  of 
Athens,  born  about  b.c,  638,  died  b.c.  558,  at  the  age  of  80. — 
Arcesilaum :  Arcesilaus,  or  Arcesilas,  was  founder  of  the  Hew 


254 


NOTES. 


Academy,  and  lived  at  close  of  3d  century  b.c.  The  scepliclsin 
of  this  school  as  to  our  capacity  for  obtaining  truth  is  sufficiently 
expressed  by  the  formula  of  Arcesilaus,  “that  he  knew  nothing, 
not  even  his  own  ignorance,”  Vid.  Class,  Diet, ;  also,  Zeller’s 
“  Stoics,  Epicureans,  and  Sceptics,”  p,  499-505, — Catoni :  cf,  §  10, 
N, — facilius  efficiet  ,  .  ,  turpem  Catonem,  wlioemv  shall  reproach 
him  will  find  it  more  easy  to  prom  that  the  crime  of  drunkenness  is 
honorable  than  that  Cato  teas  base^  because,  forsooth,  Seneca  would 
have  us  believe  that  Cato’s  towering  virtues  overtopped  this 
vicious  personal  habit, — aliqnaudo  tamen :  observe  use  of  ali- 
quando  in  connection  with  the  thought  of  this  sentence.  The 
word  approximates  in  meaning  to  prope  umquam. 

16.  Graeco  poetae,  i,  e,  Anacreon ;  cf,  Anac,  Odes^  xxxi,,  OeXw, 
Q'eXix)  yavrjvai,  etc, — Platoiii,  frustra  poeticas,  etc, :  Lips,  refers  to 
a  passage  in  Plato  as  the  one  most  probably  quoted  here  (Phae- 
drus,  xxii,  245), — Aristoteli,  nullum  magnum,  etc, ;  cf  Problem. 
§  30,  Quaest.  I, ;  also,  Cicero  {Tusc.  Bisp.  i,  33),  “  Aristoteles  qui- 
dem  ait,  omnes  ingeniosos  melancholicos  esse,” 

17.  quamdiu  apud  se  est,  as  long  as  he  is  sane. — escendere: 
cf  Vit.  Beat.  23 ;  Be  Prov.  1,  6,  n. — Habes,  etc, :  here  we  have  what 
may  be  considered  the  epilogue  of  the  whole  book, — quae  pos- 
siiit :  Z,  558. — nisi  ,  ,  ,  circumit,  v,  1,  circumeat. — Lips,  calls  at¬ 
tention  to  the  fact  that  the  promise  implied  in  tueri  and  restituere 
tranquillitatem  is  not  here  carried  out  by  the  writer,  or  at  best 
only  in  part.  Possibly  the  criticism  is  too  severe,  and  Seneca 
ought  not  to  be  tied  down  to  the  rules  of  a  formal  and  set 
treatise. 


DE  BREVITATE  VITAE. 


Argumentum. — I.,  II.  The  complaint  of  all,  vulgar  and  illustrious, 
concerning  the  shortness  of  life  is  false,  unfounded.  Nature  acts  kindly 
towards  us  while  we  give  ourselves  up  to  neither  lusts  nor  vices,  nor 
errors  hanging  over  our  life.  III.,  IV.  Hence  men  make  no  account  of 
their  time,  and  are  never  rightly  mindful  of  their  mortality.  V.,  VI. 
Examples  of  illustrious  men  seeking  repose  in  earnest,  as  Augustus, 
Cicero,  Livius  Drusus.  Some  spend  their  time  in  light,  trivial  matters. 
VII.,  VIII.  Few  understand  the  science  of  living  and  dying,  and  com¬ 
plaints  about  occupation  and  business  are  vain.  IX.  Therefore  do  not 
put  off  till  to-morrow  what  can  be  done  to-day.  X.  Those  occupied 
with  trifles  lead  a  very  short  life.  XI.,  XII.  Old  men  about  to  die 
basely  complain  of  the  easy  things  of  life,  and  say  that  they  have  lived 
only  a  little  while.  The  so-called  easy  and  delicate  are  to  be  numbered 
among  the  occupati.  XIII.,  XIV.  The  delicati  do  not  live  more  easily 
and  quietly  than  they  who  are  busied  with  useless  literary  studies. 
The  follies  of  grammarians  are  adduced,  and  he  shows  that  they  alone 
are  at  ease  who  have  leisure  for  wisdom.  XV.,  XVI.  Praises  of  wisdom. 
Levity  and  inconstancy  of  the  delicati  censured.  XVII.,  XVIII.  The 
joys  also  of  these  are  full  of  fear;  from  one  quarter  or  another  they 
tend  to  escape  from  us.  He  exhorts  Paulinus  to  seek  repose  iptium)  by 
fleeing  from  dangerous  public  duty.  XIX.,  XX.  He  urges  him  to  the 
study  of  wisdom  as  to  a  friend  indeed.  The  wretched  condition  of 
those  who  labor  at  the  beck  of  others,  and  the  folly  of  those  not  seeking 
repose  and  retirement  willingly.  Turannius  an  example  of  the  latter. 


Cap.  I. — 1.  Pauline:  Pompeius  Paulinus,  who  commanded  in 
Germany,  a.d.  58,  and  in  connection  with  L.  Antistius  completed 
the  dam  to  restrain  the  inundations  of  the  Rhine.  He  was  father 
of  Pompeia  Paulina,  wdfe  of  Seneca.  See  Introduction,  p.  13. 
The  date  of  the  present  treatise  is  not  accurately  known,  hut  it 
was  written  subsequent  to  the  reign  of  Caligula,  and  is  probably 
one  of  the  later  works  of  Seneca. — quod  .  .  .  decurraiit:  subj., 
because  the  thought  of  another  than  the  author;  cf.  H.  516,  i. ; 
B.  &  M.  1255  ;  A.  &  G.  341  d. — adfectus  :  usual  force  of  the  word 
is,  a  mental  state  or  disposition;  it  means  here  physical 


256 


NOTES. 


tendenty^  i.  e.  to  a  short  life. — maximi  medicorum,  i.  e.  Hippo¬ 
crates.  In  some  respects  he  was  the  most  celebrated  physician 
of  ancient  or  modern  times.  He  is  the  reputed  author  of  a  series 
of  medical  works,  numbering  sixty  volumes,  called  the  “  Hippo¬ 
cratic  Collection,”  which  have  been  commented  on  by  various 
writers  during  more  than  two  thousand  years.  One  of  his  max¬ 
ims  is  frequently  quoted,  ‘‘What  cannot  be  cured  by  medicine  is 
cured  by  the  knife  ;  and  what  cannot  be  cured  by  the  knife  is 
cured  by  fire.”  Hippocrates  was  born  b.c.  460,  and  is  said  to 
have  lived  to  be  a  hundred  years  old.  Vid.  Class.  Diet.— excla- 
matio :  cf.  Aphorisms  of  Hippocrates,  6  (Slog  jSpaxvg  ’  Se  Hx^t] 
fxaKprj. 

2.  Aristotelis :  Seneca  appears  to  be  wrong  in  referring  to  the 
great  Stagirite  here,  as  Lips,  shows,  by  quoting  a  contrary  state¬ 
ment  of  Aristotle’s,  viz.,  “  Man  lives  a  longer  time  than  any  other 
animal,  the  elephant  alone  excepted.”  Cicero,  also  {Tusc.  Disp. 
iii.  28),  remarks,  “  Theophrastus,  when  dying,  is  said  to  have 
found  fault  with  Nature,  because  she  had  given  to  stags  and 
crows  so  long  a  life,  but  to  men  so  short.” — exigeiitis  == 
lantis  ;  v.  1.  exigenti. — istam,  i.  e.  Nature. — educerent,  sc.  vitam  ; 
Haase  reads  edurent. 

3.  Non  exigmim,  etc. :  for  similar  sentiment,  cf.  Herod,  vii.  46. 
— Satis  longa  vita  et,  etc. :  cf.  the  well-knovui  passage  in  Sallust 
(Jugurth.  1) :  falso  queritur  de  natura  sua  genus  Tiumanum^  etc. — 
si  .  .  .  conlocaretur :  force  of  impf.  subj.^in  conditional  sen¬ 
tence  ?  H.  509 ;  B.  &  M.  1267 ;  A.  &  G.  308.  The  conclusion  data 
est  in  the  indie,  forms  a  mixed  period,  with  the  condition  in 
the  subj. ;  H.  — ultima  .  .  .  necessitate:  a  euphemism  for 
deaths  abl.  absol.  with  cogente.—ipniim  :  antecedent  mtam  under¬ 
stood,  subject  accus.  of  transisse. — ire  —pergere^  Idbi^  etc. — 4.  ita 
aetas  .  .  .  patet,  even  so  our  age,  if  it  he  icell  employed,  will  prove 
very  fair  and  long  enough;  Lodge.— disponenti,  sc.  ei. 

II.— 1.  Aliuni  .  .  .  avaritia,  etc.:  cf. Hor.  0(7. i.  1 ;  i.  1. — 

ex  alienis , .  .  .  suspensa,  always  dependent  on  the  icill  of  others. 
— numqnam  non,  at  all  times ;  with  non  placed  before,  it  means 
sometimes  ;  Z.  755, 17. — alienis  periculis,  sc.  quae  inferant. — suis, 
i.  c.  ut  ea  evitent. — ingratus  superiorum  cultus,  i.  e.  a  devotion 


DE  BKEVITATE  VITAE.  II.  l-III.  1.  257 

* 

to  one’s  superiors  that  meets  with  no  thanks  in  return. — 2.  ad- 
fectatio  alienae  fortuiiae,  i.  e.  a  striving  to  amass  a  fortune 
equal  to  that  of  anotlicr.— §uae  odium,  bc.  fortunae ;  they  are 
Timon-like,  misanthropic,  dissatisfied  with  themselves. — mar- 
ceiitis  oscitautis,  for  marcentes^  oscitantes  ;  for  the  termination  is 
for  es,  see  Z.  68,  note. — maximum  poetarum :  probably  the  poet 
Ennius  is  meant.  The  Eomans  used  to  call  him  “  our  Ennius,” 
by  way  of  distinction,  and  he  was  regarded  as  the  father  of  Latin 
poetry.  Born  at  Rudiae,  in  Calabria,  b.c.  239 ;  died  b.c.  169. 
Bouillet,  in  Lemaire’s  “  Bibliotheca  Classica  Latina,”  holds  that 
Menander  is  the  poet  here  referred  to. — yerum  esse  non  dubi- 
teiii:  non  dubito  regularly  takes  subj.,  in  some  writers  occasion¬ 
ally  accus.  with  infin. ;  cf.  M,  375,  obs.  2 ;  B.  &  M.  1234. — omue 
spatium,  i,  e.  the  whole  period  of  a  man’s  earthly  existence. 

3.  mersos,  sc.  ws,  i.  e.  ■w^^m.—recurrere  ad  se,  to  recover  them¬ 
selves. — yeluti,  etc. ;  the  same  figure  is  used  in  De  Tranq.  2,  1. — 
quorum :  predic.  gen. — iu  coufesso :  adverbial  phrase,  confess¬ 
edly. — ad  .  .  .  coucurritur,  i.  e.  to  whose  ha23piuess  everything 
consjjires. — 4.  saiiguiuem  educit,  i.  e.  by  the  ruj^ture  of  a  blood¬ 
vessel. — uiliiLllberi  :  no  time  free  from  business  engagements. — 
\iO\i\\\w>=multitudo.^  a  frequent  jiost-Aug.  force  of  the  word. — 
Omnis  =  omnes ;  see  §  2,  n. — Nemo  .  .  .  yiudicat,  no  one  claims 
himself  as  his  own. — consumimur,  i.  e.  we  are  made  use  of,  the 
one  the  advantage  and  interest  of  the  other;  v.  1.  consumitur, 

5.  quorum  nomiua  ediscuiitur :  probably  a  reference  to  the 
fact  that  those  who  wished  i3ublic  preferment  kejDt  a  nomenclator., 
concerning  whom  see  De  Tranq.  12,  3,  n.  Possibly  it  may  refer 
to  prominent  men  of  the  court  and  distinguished  orators.  Cf. 
Becker’s  “  Gallus,”  t).  212. — queruiitur,  etc. :  they  complain  of 
the  haughtiness  of  eminent  men,  that  they  have  no  leisure  at 
their  service  when  they  wish  to  approach  them. — ad  latus  .  .  . 
recepit,  i.  e.  tecum  ambulando. 

III. — 1.  inputes:  ot  De  Tranq.  6;  also,  2,  2. — quoniam  .  .  . 
volebas ;  quoniam  takes  indie,  when  the  writer  gives  his  own 
opinions  or  assigns  a  reason  on  his  own  authority;  the  subj.  is 
used  when  he  gives  the  opinions  of  another.  All  causal  and  rela¬ 
tive  conjunctions  take  subj.  when  they  introduce  a  statement  or 


25S 


NOTES. 


reason  given  on  any  other  authority  than  that  of  the  writer. 
Cf.  H.  576 ;  B.  &  M.  1255 ;  Z.  544-49. — cum  .  .  .  fiiceres :  impf. 
subj.  in  narration;  Z,  578;  H.  521,  p.  2. — Omnia  licet  .  .  .  con- 
sentiant :  concessive  subj.  According  to  Michaelis,  the  author’s 
zeal  for  brevity  has  injured  perspicuity,  and  so  he  would  suj'tply 
mirandum  after  unum.  The  sense  evidently  is,  though  all  ..  .  Inj 
common  consent  signify  their  wonder  at  this  one  thing. — exigiia 
coutentio  est  de  mode  =  contentio  est  de  exiguo  modo. — in  vitam 
suam  incedere,  \.q.  to  encroach  upon  their  life. — eius,  sc.  ritae. — 
vitam :  supply  tamen. 

''  2.  siinul  =  simul  ac. — Libet  .  .  .  conpreliendere  aliquem,  i.  e. 

I  will  detain  any  one  of  the  elderly,  for  the  purpose  of  interro¬ 
gating  him,  as  follows,  etc.— premitiir r= isto  tempore: 
iste  is  called  the  demonstrative  of  the  second  person ;  it  denotes 
what  is  nearest  the  hearer,  that  of  yours.  Cf.  Arnold’s  Lat.  Prose 
Comp.  377  e;  H.  357,  2 ;  B.  &  M.  1028. — rex,  v.  1.  re/j'.s.— offleiosa 
.  .  .  discursatio,  i.  e.  a  running  about  in  an  obliging  way,  for  the 
purpose  of  showing  the  city  to  your  friends :  discursatio.,  post- 
Aug.  ;  cf.  Lactantius,  De  Opificio  Dei,  3. 

3.  Adice,  i.  e.  adjice. — manu  fecimus,  i.  e.  which  we  have  brought 
on  by  our  own  vices  and  riotous  living.  Seneca  often  uses  this 
mode  of  expression. — quod,  sc.  temjms. — quaiido  :  cf.  Z.  346. — 
quotus  quisque,  etc. :  literally,  which  in  the  series  every  day 
passed,  etc. ;  render,  how  many  days  ?  Thus  rendered,  puotus  has 
always  a  disparaging  sense,  i.  e.  how  few  !  M.C74,  obs.  2 ;  vid.  Cic. 
Tusc.  Disp.  ii.  4. — quandO  ...  voltus,  i.  e.  not  deformed  by  anger, 
fear,  or  other  passions  and  desires. — quantum,  sc.  vitae  tuae. — 
conversatio,  viz.  cum  arnica,  above. — quam  exiguum  .  .  .  relic- 
turn  sit,  how  little  of  yours  has  been  left  to  yourself 

IV. — 1.  yelut  .  .  .  perditis,  you  expend  as  if  from  a  full  and 
abundant  treasury.  —  sit:  potential  subj.  forsitan,  fortasse  ; 
H,  485;  B.  &  M.  1177. — timetis,  v.  1.  tenetis. — A  quinqungesimo 
anno  :  there  was  exemption  from  military  service  after  the  fiftieth 
year. — sexagesinius,  etc. :  an  allusion  to  the  law  that  senators 
were  not  required  to  serve  after  the  sixtieth  year. — 2.  inde=;<;?<3 
eo. — quo  pauci  perduxerunt:  supjjly  vitam;  literally,  to  which 
few  have  drawn  out  life,  i.  e.  to  which  few  have  attained. 


DE  BKEVITATE  VITAE.  IV.  3-V.  4. 


259 


3.  si  tuto  1106.31.,  if  they  may  do  so  (descenders)  with  safety ; 
viz.  the  great,  kings,  rulers,  etc. ;  cf.De  Clement,  i.  8,  2,  addressed 
to  the  emperor  Nero,  where  Seneca  writes,  “  It  is  slavery  of  the 
highest  magnitude,  not  to  he  able  to  become  less.” — ut  .  .  .  la- 
cessat  aut  (xuatiat:  concessive  subj.;  before  ut  supply /ac  or 
sine;  H.  515,  iii. ;  B.  &  M.  1283. — te,  v.  1,  se. 

V. — 1.  non  desiit :  Augustus,  a  master  in  state-craft,  several 
times  gave  out  that  he  meant  to  resign  the  sovereign  power,  but 
he  always  took  good  care  never  to  consummate  his  abdication. 
Immediately  after  his  threefold  triumph  over  the  Pannonians, 
Dalmatians,  Cleopatra  and  Antony  (n.c.  29),  he  introduced  many 
needed  and  useful  changes  in  the  Senate  and  all  l)ranches  of  the 
government,  and  then  proposed  to  lay  down  his  power,  but  sub¬ 
mitted  to  be  placed  at  the  head  of  affairs  for  ten  years.  He  sub¬ 
sequently  repeated  this  process*  several  times.  Vid.  Mommsen’s 
“  History  of  Rome,”  vol.  iii.  pp.  323,  324 ;  also,  Class.  Diet. 

2.  ut .  .  .  perciperem :  subj.  of  result;  H.  497. — ex  verboriiiii 
dulcedine,  i.  e.  since  I  cannot  enjoy  the  pleasures  of  actual  retire¬ 
ment,  I  derive  enjoyment  even  frt)m  a  talk  about  retirement. — 
Tanta  .  .  .  otium :  Lips,  quotes  Plifiy,  writing  to  Trajan,  cum 
otium  a  te^  tamquam  res  optwia.,  et  petatur  et  detur. — illam,  sc.  rm, 
i.  e.  otium. — non  poter.at :  supply  frui. — 3.  cuni  civihus,  viz.  at 
the  battle  of  Philippi,  in  the  contest  with  Brutus  and  Cassius. — 
cum  collegis ;  M.  Lepidus  and  M,  Antonius,  his  colleagues  in  the 
second  triumvirate.— cum  adflnibus :  his  ffnal  contest  was  with 
Antony,  his  own  brother-in-law ;  vid.  Class.  Diet. — ad  externa 
hella  convertit :  after  he  had  become  undisputed  master  of  the 
Roman  world,  his  foreign  military  operations  were  directed 
chiefly  to  maintain  intact  the  boundaries  of  the  empire,  espe¬ 
cially  along  the  Danube,  the  Rhine,  the  Euphrates,  and  in  Gaul 
and  Asia  Minor. 

4.  inmixtos  .  .  .  hostes :  the  passes  over  the  Graian  and 
Pennine  Alps,  between  Gallia  Cisalpina  and  Helvetia,  were  held 
by  a  tribe  named  Salassii.  The  possession  of  these  passes  was 
of  great  importance  to  the  Romans,  since  they  were,  so  to  speak, 
in  the  midst  of  the  empire.  The  Salassii  held  out  against  the 
Romans  until  Augustus  sent  Ter.  Varro  Murena  to  invest  the 


260 


NOTES. 


region  with  a  large  force.  The  Salassii  were  defeated  and  sold 
into  slavery.— ultra  Rlieiiiim  :  Augustus  appointed  his  step-son, 
Drusus  Nero,  to  conduct  operations  on  the  Rhine. — et  Euplira- 
ten  :  under  the  leadership  of  C.  Caesar,  son  of  Julia,  Augustus’s 
daughter. — Murenae,  Caepioiiis :  Murena,  the  conqueror  of  the 
Salassii,  and  F.  Caepio,  conspired  against  Augustus,  b.c.  22. 
They  were  arrested,  tried,  and  executed. — Lepidi :  M.  Aemilius 
Lepidus,  son  of  tlie  triumvir  and  Junia,  sister  of  Brutus,  formed 
a  conspiracy,  b.c.  30,  to  assassinate  Augustus  on  his  return  after 
the  battle  of  Actium.  Maecenas,  having  discovered  the  plot, 
seized  Lepidus  and  sent  him  to  Octavianus  in  the  East,  who  put 
him  to  death. —  Egnatiorum  :  little  is  known  of  these  here 
named.  Appian  mentions  two  Egnatii,  who  were  slain  in  each 
other’s  arms,  during  the  proscription  of  Antony  and  Augustus, 
after  the  reconciliation,  b.c.  43. — Alia  :  Julia,  only  daughter  of 
Augustus,  and  wife  of  Tiberius,  was  of  a  very  dissolute  charac¬ 
ter.  She  was  banished  by  her  father  to  the  island  of  Pandataria, 
on  the  coast  of  Campania,  b.c.  2,  and  died,  in  the  same  year  witli 
Augustus,  A.D.  14.  She  is  said  to  have  engaged  in  a  conspiracy, 
with  the  partners  of  her  guilt,  against  her  father’s  life.  While 
ill  exile  she  was  an  object  of  interest  to  the  disaffected.  Cf. 
Sueton.  Awg.  19. — adulterio  .  .  .  adacti:  they  were  pledged  and 
bound  by  their  illicit  relations,  as  soldiers  are  by  an  oath. — iam 
iiifractain  aetatem  :  Augustus,  at  the  time  of  Julia’s  banishment, 
was  in  his  61st  year.  He  lived  to  the  age  of  76.^  plusque  et 
iterum  .  .  .  iimlier;  the  woman  here  named  was  Julia,  Augus¬ 
tus’s  daughter;  the  Antony  spoken  of  was  Julius  Antonius,  son 
of  Mark  Antony  and  Fnlvia.  He  was  put  to  death,  b.c.  2.  Cf. 
Tac.  Ann.  iv.  44. 

6.  partes  .  .  .  ruinpebantur,  v.  1.  semper  aliqua  rumjjeba- 
tui\  with  Augustus  understood  as  subject  of  verb. — partim  mani¬ 
festos  inimicos,  i.  e.  Catiline,  the  conspirator,  and  P.  Clodius 
Pulcher,  one  of  the  most  profligate  and  unprincipled  men  of  his 
day.  The  latter  became  the  deadly  enemy  of  Cicero,  because  of 
his  testimony  against  Clodius  for  violating  the  mysteries  of 
Bona  Dea^  'by  entering  Caesar’s  house,  where  they  were  cele¬ 
brated,  in  company  with  the  ladies  of  Rome,  in  the  disguise  of  a 
female  musician.  Clodius,  when  tribune,  obtained  a  decree  of 


V.  5-VI.  1. 


DE  BREVITATE  yiTAE. 


261 


banishment  against  Cicero,  b.c.  58 ;  and  Fulvia,  after  Clodius’s 
death,  six  years  later,  married  Mark  Antony,  by  whom  Cicero 
was  proscribed,  and  meanly  allowed  by  Octavianus  to  be  slain. — 
iuiiiiicos :  how  does  inimicus  differ  from  hostis  ? — partim  dubios 
aiiiicos :  both  Crassus  and  Pompey  proved  tliemselves  to  be  such. 
Pompey  promised  solemnly  to  defend  Cicero  against  Clodius 
and  his  bitter  hatred ;  Crassus  professed  to  be  the  fiiend  of  the 
great  orator  and  patriot ;  but  both,  on  flimsy  pretexts,  refused 
their  aid  when  needed. — fluctuatur  .  . ,  tenet :  historic  presents, 
usage  quite  frequent  with  dum;  M.  336,  obs.  3. — dum  illam  .  .  , 
tenet,  while  he  was  endeavoring  to  Jceep  it  (the  state)  from  going  to 
ruin.  Lips,  quotes  Aufidius  Bassus,  a  Roman  writer  of  history, 
as  saying  of  Cicero,  “  He  was  a  man  born  to  be  the  saviour  of  the 
-state.”  For  an  able  delineation  of  the  life  and  services  of  the 
grttfitest  of  Roman  orators,  see  Forsyth’s  “  Life  of  Cicero.” — nec 
secundis  rebus  quietus,  etc. ;  in  regard  to  these  defects  in  Cicero’s 
character,  cf.  the  work  just  named.  It  is  fairer  than  Middleton’s 
Life,  It  is  right  here,  too,  to  warn  the  student  against  Momm¬ 
sen’s  treatment  of  Cicero,  who,  as  Freeman  says  (“  Historic  Es¬ 
says,”  2d  series,  p.  268),  is  made,  by  the  historian,  “  a  mere  mark 
for  contemptuous  jeers,  for  his  name  is  never  uttered  without 
some  epithet  of  scorn.” — adversarum,  governed  by  patiens. 

6.^  Atticum :  Q.  Caecilius  Pomponianus  Atticus,  a  fellow-stu- 
<lent  and  intimate  friend  of  Cicero’s,  born  b.c.  109.  He  was  sur- 
named  Atticus,  probably  from  his  long  residence  at  Athens, 
where  he  became  thoroughly  versed  in  Greek  literature.  His 
critical  taste  was  esteemed  highly  valuable,  and  Cicero  and  others 
used  to  send  MSS.  to  him  for  examination  and  approval :  the  De 
Senedute  was  thus  submitted  to  Atticus. — quadam  .  .  .  epistula : 
the  quotation  is  not  found  in  any  of  the  Epistles  to  Atticus  which 
have  come  down  to  us. — lilio,  i.  e.  Sextus  Pompey. — libertatis, 
descriptive  gen.  in  the  predicate,  supply  est ;  so  also,  sui  juris. 

VI. — I.  Livius  Drusus ;  tribune  of  the  plebs,  b.c.  91,  uncle  of 
Cato  Uticensis,  and  great-uncle  of  Brutus.  He  was  an  active, 
ambitious,  and  energetic  man,  and  obtained  the  passage  of  sev¬ 
eral  of  the  propositions  of  the  Gracchi,  such  as  the  distribution 
of  corn  and  division  of  public  lands.  As,  howevei’,  he  treated 

M 


262 


NOTES. 


tlie  Senate  rather  rudely  and  contemptuously,  and  proposed  to 
double  its  number  from  the  knights,  that  body  repealed  all  his 
laws.  Disgusted  with  the  state  of  affairs,  he  wished  for  a  quiet 
life,  but  did  not  obtain  it.  Seneca  gives  the  account  of  his  death, 
followed  by  Appian,  viz.  that  being  afraid  to  appear  out  after 
darky  he  received  his  partisans  in  a  dark  passage  in  his  house, 
and  that  one  evening,  when  dismissing  the  crowd  present,  he 
suddenly  cried  out  that  he  was  wounded,  and  fell  to  the  ground 
with  a  leather-cutter’s  knife  thrust  in  his  groin.  Vid.  Class. 
Diet. — leges  novas:  see  note  above.  He  also  proposed  a  law 
giving  the  judicia  to  the  Senate  constituted  as  abovp  noted,  and 
a  law  giving  citizenship  to  t'he  foederatae  civitates. — mala  Grac- 
ehana,  i.  e.  the  disturbances  and  evils  resulting  from  the  meas¬ 
ures  of  the  Gracchi. — rerum,  i.  e.  the  measures  which  he  had 
proposed  and  attempted  to  carry  out,  and  which  he  was  neiMier 
permitted  to  accomplish,  nor  relinquish  when  begun. — praetex- 
tatus :  the  toga  'praetexta  was  laid  aside  usually  at  end  of  14th 
year,  when  the  toga  virilis  was  assumed. — constet,  it  is  Tenown. — 
rapta  =  extorta^  i.  e.  judgments  were  rendered  as  he  wished, 

2,  Quo  .  .  .  amhitio  ?  to  what  end  would  such  immature  amhition 
not  hasten? — erumperet:  potential  subj. — scires,  etc.:  you  could 
readily  perceire  (suppressed  condition,  if  you  had  the  opportunity) : 
what  is  force  of  impf.  subj.  in  conditional  sentences? — gravis, 
troublesome. — nullo  :  supply  dubitante;  in  full,  it  would  read,  nullo 
dubitante  an  mors  ejus  tempestira  esset^  i.  e,  all  believing  that  it  was 
not  untimely. — 3.  ipsi :  cf.  Be  Prov.  4,  3,  n. — perosi,  v.  1.  proden- 
tes. — adfectus  .  .  .  relabuntur,  i.  e.  they  relapse  into  the  old 
state. — adfectus  .  .  .  consuetudinem :  by  enallage  for  adfectum 
solitum^  or  adfectum  consuetudinarium. — nullum  non  =  every  ;  non 
nullum  —  some;  Z,  755 ;  cf.  2, 1,  n. — hoc  spatium,  i.  e.  the  allotted 
period  of  life. — quamvis  .  .  .  currit:  the  indie,  is  used  with 
quamvis  in  concessive  sentences,  frequently  by  post- Aug.  writers, 
as  Tacitus  and  Seneca.  The  subj.  is  found  altogether  in  Cicero, 
and.  most  of  the  earlier  writers.  With  indie,  it  seems  to  lose  its 
etymological  force ;  H.  515  ;  B.  &  M.  1286. —  effugiat,  ut  omitted: 
necesse  est  is  frequently  followed  by  subj.  instead  of  accus.  with 
inlin.,  especially  in  later  writers.  —  4.  ncc  vclocissiuiac,  etc., 
Fickert  omits  nec.,  which  we  give,  with  Haase. 


DE  BREVITATE  VITAE.  VI.  5-VII.  4. 


263 


5.  Licet  .  .  .  enumeres,  concessive  subj. ;  B.  &  M.  1283;  A.  & 

G.  313  b.  — proiectorum,  (of  men)  given  up  to,  addicted. — Omnia 
istorum  tempora  excute,  examine  all  the  details  of  their  lives. — 
quae  .  .  .  officia  sunt:  perhaps  the  author  alludes  to  official 
banquets  and  feasting  ;  or  it  may  be  the  idea  is  that,  like  official 
duties,  banquets,  etc.,  must  be  given  and  attended.  Cf.  3,  2 ;  die, 
quantum,  etc.  for  similar  sentiment. — 6.  sed  omnia  .  .  .  respuit : 
the  idea  is,  that  the  preoccupied  man  refuses  additional  food  for 
thought,  just  as  a  stomach  already  gorged  rejects  additional 
meat  or  drink.  Cf.  Be  ViU  Beat.  34, 1.— hominis  occupati,  predic. 
genitive. 

VII. — 1.  aliarnm  artium,  i.  e.  arts  other  than  the  art  of  liv¬ 
ing. — pueri  admodum,  mere  Ijoys ;  admodum  used  as  an  adjec¬ 
tive. — tota  vita :  ablat.  of  time  how  long,  in  place  of  accus. ; 

H.  378,  1 ;  B.  &  M.  950  ;  A.  &  G.  356  b. — Tot  maximi  vlri,  i.  e. 
Democritus,  Epicurus,  etc. — egerunt,  have  aimed  at. — nedum  ut 
isti  sciant :  there  is  an  ellipsis  before  ut,  such  as,  it  is  evident,  or 
probable,  or  the  like ;  isti,  antithetic  to  tot  maximi  viri,  and  refers 
to  the  common  mass  of  men,  in  which  the  writer  includes  him¬ 
self  and  the  person  addressed,  i.  e.  smh  as  we  are. 

2.  inde  =  e2:  eo,  i.  e.  tempore. — Nihil  inde  .  .  .  iacuit,  none  of 
that  time  was  unemployed,  or  frittered  away  in  idleness. — quod 
.  ,  .  permutaret :  muto  and  its  compounds  are  usually  followed 
by  same  construction  as  verbs  of  selling,  but  writers  both  of 
prose  and  poetry  sometimes  reverse  the  expression,  and  put  that 
which  we  receive  in  the  accus,  and  that  which  we  give  for  it  in 
ablat.,  either  with  or  without  preposition  cum;  Ta.  456,  note. — • 
permutaret :  subj.  after  dignum  ;  H.  503,  ii.  3. — Itaque  satis  illi 
fuit,  i.  e.  the  time  allotted  to  his  life  was  long  enough. — 3.  Nec 
est  quod :  cf.  Be  Tranq.  1, 1,  n.— omnes  illi,  etc. :  for  a  like  senti¬ 
ment,  cf.  Pliny,  Epist.  i.  9.  —  ahducuut,  sc.  te.  —  ad  iuritandum 
.  .  .  captantium:  to  stir  up  the  avarice  of  legacy-hunters;  for 
ad  with  accus.  gerundive  expressing  purpose,  vid.  H.  544,  notes ; 
B.  &  M.  1338. — sed  in  adparatu  hahet,  i.  e.  he  only  values  you  as 
you  minister  to  his  love  of  pomp,  by  paying  court  to  him  and 
attending  upon  him. 

4.  Dispuuge:  post- Aug.,  ocmpwtis. — reiculos^r^jic'wios  .■  v.  1. 


264 


NOTES. 


7‘idiculos. — fasces,  especially  a  high  office.  The  consuls  and 

praetors  were  preceded  by  lictors  with  the  fasces.  —  Facit  ille 
ludos :  it  was  the  duty  of  the  praetor  urbanus  {De  Tranq.  3, 4,  n.) 
to  conduct  the  ludi  Apollinares.  Vid.  Diet.  Antiq.  —  sortem: 
the  two  praetors  determined  by  lot  which  functions  they  should 
respectively  exercise. — Diripitur,  i.  e.  gratia  ac  farore :  the  idea 
is  that,  so  great  is  the  number  of  his  clients,  there  is  a  strife  to 
secure  his  services,  and  he  is  dragged  this  way  and  that.  Cf. 
De  Ira^  iii.  23. — toto  foro  :  ablat.  of  place  without  a  preposition  \ 
II.  425,  II.  2.— Quaudo  .  .  .  res  proferentur  ?  the  courts  were  ad¬ 
journed  during  the  dies  nefasti.  Vid.  Diet.  Antiq. 

5k  qui  onmes  .  .  ^  ordinal,  i.  e.  who  disposes  of  every  day,  as 
if  it  were  his  last;  who  cherishes  the  sentiment  in  Epist.  15, 12, 
Behold,  this  day  is  my  last ;  if  not,  my  last  is  very  near.” — fors 
fortuna :  the  goddess  of  chance  or  good-luck,  and  in  fact  of  all 
prosperity,  worshipped  with  great  devotion  by  both  Greeks  and 
Romans.  Vid.  Class.  Diet. — huic,  sc.  ritae. — adici,  for  adjici:  cf. 
De  Prov.  2,  8,  n. — huic  adici  .  .  .  nihil,  i.  e.  the  life  of  such  a  man 
may  be  broadened  and  prolonged,  but  nothing  can  shorten  it; 
for  by  the  useful  employment  of  all  time,  it  would  be  a  complete 
life,  no  matter  when  it  is  brought  to  a  close. 

VIII.— 1.  Non  est  itaque  quod  .  .  .  putes:  cf.  7,  8,  n.— [non 
ille  . ..  .  sed] :  Fickert,  in  a  note,  says  that  he  dares  not  omit 
these  words,  although  they  are  not  in  the  Milan  codex. — quid 
enim :  supply  censes  or  a^s.— eos  qui  rogantur,  i.  e.  those  of  whom 
the  time  is  requested. — 2.  ipsum,  sc.  tempus. — neuter :  subject 
of  spectat  understood. — Annua  congiaria :  congiarium  means  lit¬ 
erally  a  vessel  holding  a  congius.,  the  usual  measure  of  oil  or  wine 
distributed  among. the  people.  It  was  afterwards  (Quintil.  vi.  3, 
52)  applied  to  liberal  donations  of  corn,  wine,  money,  etc.,  to  the 
people.  Moreover,  it  was  used  to  denote  a  present  or  pension 
(as  in  this  instance)  given  by  a  person  of  high  rank  to  his  friends, 
in  return  for  which  their  services  were  rendered  when  required. 
Cf.  Cic.  ad  Famil.  viii.  1 ;  Sueton.  Vespas.  18 ;  Nero.,  10. — carls - 
siiiie,  V.  1.  clarissime. — his,  sc.  congiariis. 

3.  eosdeni  aegros  vide :  cf.  Epictetus  (Stobaeus,  Florileg.  exxi. 
30).  —  parates,  agrees  with  illos,  understood.  Supply  vide. — 


DE  BREVITATE  VITAE.  VIII.  3-IX.  2. 


265 


inpendere,  to  expend :  governed  by  paratos;  H.  533,  n. ;  B.  &  M, 
1122. — Quodsi  posset  .  .  .  trepidarent  .  .  .  parcerent:  cf.  1,  3. 
N. — 4,  res,  i.  e.  tempus. — sine  illorum  incremento,  i.  e.  they  give 
of  their  precious  time  without  being  able  to  add  to  that  of  their 
friends  to  whom  they  give. 

5.  nihil  admonebit,  supply  te :  subject  of  verb  is  aetas  under¬ 
stood  ;  for  government  of  velocitatis^  vid.  H.  409,  i. ;  B.  &  M.  793; 
A.  &  G.  219.— sicut  missa  est  .  .  .  curret:  the  figure  is  taken 
from  the  races  in  the  Circensian  games.  It  is  that  of  a  chariot¬ 
eer  upon  the  course,  sent  forth  {missus)  by  the  presiding  otficer 
of  the  Circus  Maximus.  Vid.  Diet.  Antiq. — cui  .  .  .  vacandum, 
for  which  (death)  you  must  have  time,  i.  e.  to  which  you  must  at¬ 
tend. — velis  nolis,  for  sive  velis,  sive  nolis,  whether  you  wish  it  or 
not;  M.  422,  obs,  b, 

IX. — 1'.  Potestne :  there  is  an  ellipsis  of  some  verb  after  this 
expression ;  we  may  supply  moi'ti  vacare  after  quisquam.—^ao, 
I  mean. — operosius :  the  comparative  sometimes  serves  to  denote 
a  considerable  or  higli  degree ;  M.  308.  Render,  operosius  .  .  . 
quam  ut,  too  laboriously  ...  to  ;  or  the  whole  passage,  too  labori¬ 
ously  engaged  to  he  able  to  live  hettei'  lives. — possint :  subj.  is  used 
after  comparative,  followed  by  quam  qui,  or  quam  ut,  in  sentences 
denoting  result ;  Z.  560 ;  M.  440  a  ;  308,  obs.  1. — Inpendio  vitae, 
at  the  expense  of  life,  i.  e.  the  loss  of  a  true  life  ;  inpendio,  ablat. 
of  price. — exspectatio,  quae  pendet  ex  crastino  :  cf.  Epist.l,  2, 
Embrace  every  hour;  the  stronger  hold  you  have  on  to-day, 
the  less  will  be  your  dependence  on  to-morrow.  Life,  however 
unimproved,  still  glides  away.” — in  tna,  se.  manu. — omnia  qnae 
ventura  snnt,  etc.,  all  that  is  to  come  is  uncertain. — protinus 
statim,  iamnunc. 

2.  ore:  Muretus  would  read, /wrore.rr Optima  qnaeque,  etc.: 
Virg.  Georg,  iii.  66,  probably  the  source  of  the  common  saying, 
“  Our  first  days  are  our  best  days ;”  cf.  Epist.  108, 25. — Nisi  OCCU- 
pas,  fugit,  sc.  dies  or  tempus : 

“The  canning  fugitive  is  swift  by  stealth, 

Too  subtle  is  the  moment  to  be  seen, 

Yet  soon  man’s  hour  is  up,  and  we  are  gone.”— Youno. 

— Hoc:  supply  tendit;  hoc  refers  to  the  quotation  froni  Virgil. 


266 


NOTES. 


— infinitam  cogitationem,  i.  e.  endless  thonglit  and  planning  for 
the  future,  based  on  the  false  assumption  that  man’s  future  is 
long  on  earth. — dicit,  i.  e.  the  poet  Virgil.— 3.  loquitur,  i.  e.  the 
poet. — pueriles  adliue  animos :  cf.  Epist.  22, 14,  “  Every  one  de¬ 
parts  from  life  as  if  he  had  just  entered  Upon  it,”  a  quotation 
from  Epicurus. 

4.  JVihil  enim  provisum,  i.  e.  no  provision  has  been  made  for 
old  age.  —  accedere  earn  cotidie  non  sentiebant:  cf.  Epist.  1,  2, 
“  Where  will  you  find  one  who  sets  value  upon  time  ?  who  under¬ 
stands  that  he  dies  daily  ?  For  herein  are  we  deceived  :  we  look 
forward  at  death,  whereas  death  in  a  great  measure  is  already 
passed.  All  the  lapsed  years  of  life  are  in  the  grasp  of  death.”— 
fuGi^nii^—facientes^  sc.  eos.  —  pervenisse,  m.Jinem  itineris;  de¬ 
pends  upon  sciunt. 

X. — 1.  Fabianus:  C.  Papiiius  Fabianus,  a  Roman  rhetorician 
and  philosopher  in  the  time  of  Tiberius  and  Caligula.  He  wrote 
largely,  especially  on  philosophy,  and  Seneca,  in  Epist.  100,  sets 
a  high  value  on  his  works,  placing  them  next  to  those  of  Cicero, 
Asinius  Pollio,  and  Livy.  Cf.  De  Tranq.  1,  6,  n. — cathedrariis, 
i.  Q.  pedantic^  talTmtive, — antiquis :  not  ancient^  in  our  sense  of  the 
word  (for  he  lived  in  Seneca’s  time,  and'  seems  to  have  been  on 
terms  of  intimacy  with  him),  but  one  of  the  old  stamp ^  character¬ 
ized  by  the  purity  and  simplicity  of  the  olden  time. 

2.  quod  fuit,  quod  est,  quod  futurum  est,  the  past^  the  present^ 
and  the  future.  What  is  antecedent  of  quod  ? — quod  agimus,  for 
quod  est ;  so  quod  acturi  sumus  for  quod  futuri  sumus.,  etc. — Hoc, 
i.  e.  quod  egimus  certum. — ius  perdidit :  cf.  Pliny,  Nat.  Hist.  ii.  7, 
ne  deum  quidem  posse  omnia  .  .  .  nuUumque  habere  in  praeterita 
ius,  praeterquam  dblimonis ;  cf.  also,  Hor.  Od.  iii.  29,  45—48. — 
poenitendae  rei  recordatio,  the  recalling  of  a  thing  to  he  repented 
of  —  retemptare  retentare.  —  sub  ceiisura  sua,  i.  e.  under  the 
censorship  of  his  own  conscience,  or  right  reason. 

3.  necesse  est  .  .  .  timeat :  cf.  6, 3,  n. — dedicata :  given  over, 
and,  as  it  were,  consecrated  to  memory ;  i.  e.  it  is  beyond  recall, 
and  in  the  grasp  only  of  memory. — 4,  Haec  .  .  .  nec  eripi  po¬ 
test  :  Lips,  quotes  Martial,  et  solum  hoc  ducas,  quod  fuit,  esse  tuum  ; 
cf.  De  Vit.  Beat.  6, 1  ^  De  Benef.  iii.  4,  1.  —  velut  sub  iugo  sint: 


DE  BREVITATE  VITAE.  X.  4-XI.  3.  267 

companson  from  figure  of  an  ox  under  the  yoke,  which  prevents 
his  bending  his  neck  and  looking  back. 

5.  Abit,  V.  1.  dbiit. — in  profuiidiim,  into  olscurity. — licet  quau* 
tumlibet  ingeras,  although  you  accumulate  as  much  as  you  please : 
concessive  subj. ;  cf.  6,  5,  n. — si  non  snbest,  sc.  tibi.  —  quassos: 
Lips,  prefers  cassos. — 6.  nullum,  sc.  tempus. — in  cursu,  in  motion^ 
on  the  wing  ;  as  Heraclitus  says,  iravra  peT. — mundus  =  coelum. 

XI. — 1.  minores  natu,  younger^  i.  e.  than  they  really  are. — 
quain  si  nna  fata  decipiant ;  cf.  Martial  {Epig.  iii.  43), 

“Non  omnes  fallis ;  scit  te  Proserpina  caunm; 

Personam  capiti  detrahet  ilia  tno,” 

— non  tamquam  .  .  .  extraliantur  ?  (as  Lodge  quaintly  renders 
it),  not  as  if  they  did  deptart^  but  as  if^  will  they,  nill  they,  they  were 
pulled  out  by  the  eares. — ut  non  vixerint ;  subj.  of  result. 

2.  qnam  frustra  paraverint  .  .  .  ceciderit  ;  indirect  ques¬ 
tions;  fruerentur :  subj.  after  the  relative,  with  an  indef.  antece¬ 
dent.  —  At  quibus  .  .  .  agitur :  cf.  Hor.  Epod.  2.  —  delegatur,  is 
made  oner,  or  assigned,  i.  e.  to  another. — inde  =  ea;  ilia,  sc.  rita. — 
nihil  .  .  .  fortunae  traditur :  for  the  wise  man  trusts  to  wise 
counsels,  and  judgment  rather  than  chance. — ut  ita  dicam,  so  to 
speak:  subj.  of  purpose,  —  in  reditu "‘Cst,  makes  returns:  figure 
taken  from  money  at  interest. 

3.  basilica,  i.  e.  hall  of  justice,  court. — quos  .  .  .  canes  eiciunt : 
dogs,  belonging  to  janitors,  etc.,  watched  public  buildings,  as 
well  as  private ;  they  were  generally  loosed  at  night.  The  sense 
is  that  some  were  so  zealous  and  engrossed  with  their  business 
at  court  that  they  w'cre  the  last  to  leave  the  hall,  and  the  dogs 
being  let  loose  were  at  their  heels.  Lips,  refers  to  De  Ira,  iii. 
37,  2,  —  sua  turba,  i.  e.  their  clients. — aliena,  sc,  turba. — hasta 

,  praetoris  =  auction :  a  spear  was  erected  at  auctions,  both  to  an¬ 
nounce,  by  a  conventional  sign  conspicuous  at  a  distance,  that  a 
sale  was  going  on,  and  to  show  that  it  was  conducted  under  the 
authority  of  the  magistrate ;  hence  hasta  praetoris.  The  use  of  a 
hasta  for  this  purpose  is  said  to  have  been  derived  from  selling 
under  a  spear  booty  taken  in  war.  Cf.  Cic.  De  Offic.  ii.  8. — infami, 
infamous,  as  the  price  of  confiscated  goods,  which  were  sold  at 
these  auctions.— lucro  :  ablat.  of  price. — suppuraturo,  i.  e.  gains 


268 


NOTES. 


of  this  nature  will  become  noxious,  like  a  gathering  ulcer.  A 
revolution  would  render  all  confiscations  null,  and  hence  all 
sales  would  be  abrogated,  and  restitution  would  be  enforced. 

•  XII.— 1.  Corinthia,  sc.  mm :  there  was  a  celebrated  alloy  of 
gold,  silver,  and  copper  (said  to  have  been  accidentally  discov¬ 
ered  at  the  burning  of  Corinth  by  Mummius,  b.c.  146),  which 
was  very  highly  prized  by  the  ancients.  It  was  much  used  in 
fashioning  various  vessels,  coins,  etc.  Cf.  Be  Tranq.  9,  6,  n.— 
aiixia  sabtilitate,  i.  e.  to  distinguish  whether  they  were  genuine 
or  spurious. — ceroniate :  ointment  made  of  oil  and  wax,  with 
which  the  wrestlers  were  anointed ;  they  were  then  covered  with 
dust  or  soft  sand, — vitiis :  dat.  after  Idboramus. — sectator  puero- 
rnin  rixantinin,  i,  e,  the  idlers. — aetatiam  et  colorum :  governed 
by  'paria^  which  sometimes  in  later  writers  takes  gen.  to  denote 
a  certain  reference  {with  respect  to)  to  a  thing  which  is  otherwise 
expressed  by  the  ablat. ;  M.  290,  obs.  1,  g. — vinctorum  snornm 
greges,  i.  e.  bands  of  his  slaves  chained  together.  He  character¬ 
izes  the  wealthy  slaveholders  as  occupati.^  who  employ  their  time 
in  thus  dividing  off  their  slaves. — athletas :  contestants  for  prizes 
(aOXa)  in  the  public  games  of  the  Greeks  and  Romans.  Under 
the  empire  athletic  exercises  became  a  profession,  and  only  those 
trained  for  the  purpose  contended  in  the  public  games.  They 
went  through  a  course  of  exercise  and  diet,  and  some  of  them 
are  said  to  have  consumed  enormous  quantities  of  animal  food. 
Cf.  Diet.  Antiq. — novissimos,  v.  1.  notissimos. — quibns  :  dative  of 
agent.— dum  de  singulis  .  .  .  itur,  while  he  deliberates  over  each 
hair.,  viz.  to  determine  whether  it  should  be  trimmed  or  not.^ — 
deficiens,  etc,,  sc.  coma,  i.  e,  beginning  to  be  bald  above  the  fore¬ 
head. 

2.  iuba :  elaborately  arranged  ringlets  and  locks,  perhaps ;  cf. ' 
Epist.  124,  22,  “  Why  do  you  dress  your  hair  with  so  great  dili¬ 
gence  and  art?”  etc. — 3.  canticis  =  ;  cf.  Martial, 

iii.  63,  5.— carmen  :  object  of  metientes. — sonant :  Lips,  prefers 
tristes,  sc.  res. 

4.  posnerim:  potential  subj.  —  argentum:  the  table-service 
and  plate  displayed  upon  sideboards.  Besides  the  necessary 
plate  used  at  meals,  wealthy  Romans  placed  costly  gold  and 


DE  BREVITATE  VITAE.  XH.  4-XIII.  1. 


269 


silver  utensils  on  their  tables,  called  and  Delphici.  Cf.  Cic. 
in  Verr,  iv.  16;  Pliny,  Nat.  Hist,  xxxvii.  2,  6;  also,  Becker’s 
“  Gallus,”  p.  125. — ordinent  .  .  .  succingant  .  .  .  suspensi  sint ; 
indirect  questions. — exoletorum  :  ci.  De  Prov.  3, 11,  n. — tunicas 
succingant :  cf.  Hor.  Sat.  ii.  8,  70,  praecincti  recte  pueri  comptique 
ministrent. — quoinodo  aper  a  coco  exeat :  the  wild  boar  was 
the  chief  dish  of  a  grand  coena ;  ct  De  Tranq.  6,  2,  x.  There 
were  those  who  pretended  that  they  could  distinguish  by  the 
taste  from  what  part  of  Italy  the  boar  came ;  cf.  Hor.  Sat.  ii.  4, 
40. — aodQ  —  coquo. — signo  dato :  by  the  master,  with  a  nod  of 
the  head  usually ;  cf  Epist.  95,  24,  where  Seneca,  speaking  of  the 
display  of  servants  and  extravagance  of  an  entertainment,  ex¬ 
claims,  di  honi,  quantum  hcminum  unus  venter  tercet! — quanta 
.  .  .  scindantur:  ct DeVit.Beat.il — aves:  consisting  usu¬ 
ally  of  peacocks,  pheasants,  doves,  ducks,  etc. ;  vid.  Becker’s 
Gallus,”  p.  133. — quam  ,  .  .  detergeant:  depends  on  videam., 
above. — Ex  his,  in  consequence  of  these  things. 

5,  numeraveris :  potential  subj.  The  second  person  is  used 
of  an  assumed  person  representing  a  single  indefinite  subject 
(some  one,  one),  which  is  imagined  and,  so  to  speak,  addressed, 
in  order  to  express  something  indefinite ;  M.  370. — illas,  sc.  gesta- 
tiones. — alius,  i.  e.  a  slave,  whose  duty  it  is  to  remind  them  when 
the  regular  hour  for  these  various  occupations  has  arrived. 

6.  lam  sedeo  ?  Plutarch  says  of  Nicias,  the  famous  Athenian 
painter,  that  while  engaged  upon  his  masterpiece,  viz.  the  infer¬ 
nal  regions  as  described  by  Homer,  he  became  so  absorbed  in  the 
work  as  to,  have  to  ask  his  servants,  at  times,  whether  he  had 
bathed  or  dined.  Similar  absorption  in  work  is  recorded  of 
Archimedes,  Newton,  etc.  —  dixerim,  potential  subj.:  a  thing 
which  easily  can  or  will  happen  when  there  is  occasion  for  it  is 
modestly  and  cautiously  expressed  in  the  subj,,  most  frequently 
in  the  first  person,  to  denote  that  to  which  one  is  inclined ;  M. 
350  b. — 7.  hominis  :  gen,  after  esse  understood ;  H.  403, 2.  What 
is  the  subject  of  videtur  f — mimos :  cf  De  Ira^  ii.  4, — Esse  ali- 
quem  :  depends  on  some  verb  understood  ;  Lips,  gives  p-wtos. 

XIII.  —  1.  iuponas,  sc.  huic:  cf  12,  5,  n.  numeraveris.  —  cui : 
dat.  of  possession  after  est.  —  iatruuculi,  draughts.,  eA«sswcn,’by 

M  2 


270 


NOTES. 


metonymy  for  chess.  The  game  is  very  ancient,  and  Homer  notes 
tliat  Penelope’s  suitors  played  at  it  (Odyss.  i.  107).  Two  sets  of 
men  were  used — black  and  white  or  red.  As  they  were  intend¬ 
ed  to  represent  two  armies  in  conflict,  they  were  called  various¬ 
ly  soldiers  (Ovid,  Trist.  ii.  477), /oes  (hostes)^  marauders  (latrones)  ; 
dimin.  latruncuU.  Cf.  Ovid,  Ars  Amat.  ii.  208 ;  iii.  857 ;  De  Tranq. 
14, 4 ;  Diet.  Antiq. — pila  ;  the  game  at  ball  was  very  ancient  and 
a  great  favorite  with  both  Greeks  and  Romans.  It  was  played  by 
all  ages  and  ranks ;  and  the  Athenians  on  one  occasion  conferred 
upon  Aristonicus  of  Carystus  the  right  of  citizenship,  and  erected 
a  statue  to  his  honor,  on  account  of  his  skill  in  this  game.  Cf 
Atheuaeus,  i.  p.  19  a;  Diet.  Antiq. — excoqiiendi  in  sole  corporis 
Cura :  cf  Be  Tranq.  3, 1. 

2.  quae  —  of  whom:  refers  to  the  subject  of  agant.  The  relat. 
sometimes  agrees  with  the  predic.  noun  instead  of  the  antece¬ 
dent  ;  H.  445, 4 ;  B.  &  M.  695. — quern  numerum  .  .  .  habuisset : 
a  reference  to  the  vessels  and  men  that  king  Alcinous  furnished 
to  convey  Ulysses  to  Ithaca. — prior  .  .  .  Ilias  an  Odyssea :  the 
ancient  opinion  was,  as  expressed  by  Longinus,  that  Homer  com¬ 
posed  the  “  Iliad  ”  in  the  vigor  of  his  years,  and  the  “  Odyssey  ” 
in  old  age.  This  is  also  the  general  sentiment  in  modern  times. 
For  a  discussion  of  the  “  Homeric  Question,”  in  its  several  phases, 
the  student  may  consult  Wolff’s  Prolegomena.^  Paley’s  Preface  and 
Notes  to  the  “Iliad,”  Muller’s  “  History  of  Greek  Literature,”  etc. 
— praeterea  an  eiusdem  .  .  .  auctoris :  there  were,  even  in  an¬ 
cient  times,  critics  who  held  that  the  “Iliad”  and  “Odyssey” 
were  not  written  by  the  same  poet.  They  were  called  x^p^Zovreg, 
or  separatists.^  concerning  whom  and  their  views,  cf  Grauert 
(“  Rhein.  Mus.”  vol.  i.) ;  Thirlwall’s  “  Hist,  of  Greece,”  i.  500-516  ; 
Edinburgh  Review,  for  April,  1871 ;  and  Class.  Diet.  Lips,  refers 
to  a  fantastical  story  of  one  Phantasia,  an  Egyptian,  daughter  of 
Nicarchus  of  MemjDhis.  She  is  said  to  have  written  an  account 
of  the  Trojan  war  and  the  wanderings  of  Ulysses,  and  deposited 
it  in  the  temple  of  Vulcan  at  Memphis.  Homer,  the  story  goes 
on  to  say,  procured  a  copy  from  one  of  the  sacred  scribes,  and 
thus  stole  the  materials  for  immorteJity. — alia  deinceps  huius 
notae,  and  so  on,  other  questions  of  this  kind ;  alia,  object  of 
quaerere,  understood. — quae  sive  contiueas,  sc.  in  tun  mente.-^ 


DE  BREVITATE  VITAE.  XIII.  2-6. 


271 


non  doctior  videaris :  Lips,  quotes  Aristippus — as  not  those  who 
consume  the  most,  but  those  who  use  the  necessary  articles  of 
food  are  the  stronger,  so  those  who  have  read  useful,  not  the 
most  books,  must  be  considered  learned. 

3.  Romanos :  Suetonius  (70)  names  Tiberius  among  these. — 
Buillius:  C.  Duillius,  consul,  b.c.  260.  He  gained  the  first  Roman 
naval  victory  over  the  Carthaginians,  off  the  coast.  A  column  was 
erected  in  the  forum  in  memory  of  this,  and  it  was  adorned  with 
the  beaks  of  the  conquered  ships.  Cf.  Pliny,  Nat.  Hist.  xxiv.  5. 
— Curias  Deiitatus :  cf.  He  Tranq.  3,  i6,  n. — 4.  Claudius  :  Appius 
Claudius,  surnamed  Caudex,  from  his  connection  with  naval  af¬ 
fairs,  was  consul  b.c.  264.  He  commanded  the  forces  sent  to  aid 
the  Mamertini,  and,  after  landing  in  Sicily  at  night,  defeated  Hiero 
and  the  Carthaginians.  Vid.  Class.  Diet. — quia  plurium  tabula- 
rum,  etc. :  Lips,  quotes  Varro  {ap.  Nonium),  quod  antiqui  plures 
tdbulas  conjunctas.,  codices  dic^ant :  a  quo  in  Tiloeri  mmes  codicarias 
appellamus. 

5.  Sane  et  hoc  .  .  .  quod,  ilds  certainly  may  also  he  pertinent 
to  the  matter  in  hand.,  that.,  etc. — Talerius  Corvinus  :  consul,  b.c. 
263,  second  year  of  first  Punic  war.  His  operations  were  chiefly 
directed  against  the  Carthaginians  in  Sicily.  He  relieved  Mes- 
sana  from  blockade,  and  received  in  consequence  the  cognomen 
Messala. — primus  L.  Sulla,  etc.:  Sulla,  vdien  praetor,  b.c.  93, 
gratified  the  Romans  with  an  exhibition  of  one  hundred  African 
lions,  which  were  slain  by  archers  sent  for  the  purpose  by  Boc- 
chus,  king  of  Mauretania.  It  was  this  king  who  betrayed  Jugur- 
tha  to  Sulla. — cum  alioquin  adligati  darentur,  while  in  general 
they  were  presented  hound.,  i.  e.  to  the  archers. — darentur:  cum 
usually  has  the  subj.  when  it  expresses  a  kind  of  comparison, 
and  especially  a  contrast,  between  the  contents  of  the  leading 
proposition  and  the  subordinate ;  M.  358,  obs.  3. 

6.  Pompeium,  etc'.  During  his  second  consulship  Pompey 
opened  the  theatre  in  the  Campus  Martius  (capable  of  holding 
forty  thousand  spectators)  with  games  of  unparalleled  magnifi¬ 
cence.  Five  hundred  African  lions  were  slain,  and  eighteen  ele¬ 
phants  were  attacked.  Some  of  these  were  killed,  Pliny  says  {Nat. 
Hist.  viii.  20),  by  Gaetulian  huntsmen ;  but  Seneca  represents  the 
contest  as  between  the  elephants  and  criminals  {noxiis  hominihus) 


272 


NOTES. 


who  had  been  exposed  to  them. — bonitatis  eximiae,  sc.princeps. 
Concerning  Pompey,  see  the  full  and  carefully  prepared  article 
Pompeius^  in  Dr.  Smith’s  “  Diet,  of  Gr.  and  Rom.  Biog. also, 
Mommsen’s  severe  and  hard  judgment,  “Hist,  of  Rome,”  vol.  iv. 
jjp.  508, 509. — exterantur,  let  them  he  crushed. — Satius  erat  ista, 
etc.,  it  were  l)etter  that  such  things  as  these  he  forgotten.,  lest.,  etc. ; 
satius  erat,  the  apodosis,  the  protasis  omitted.  The  impf.  indie, 
is  often  used  when  it  is  declared,  without  a  condition,  what  might 
or  ought  to  happen,  but  does  not  happen.  The  impf.  of  sum  is 
then  accompanied  by  such  neuters  as  satius,  melius,  etc. ;  M.  348  c, 
obs. ;  B.  &  M.  1275. — minime  humanae  =  inJiumam 

XIV.— 1.  Ille,  i.  e.  Pompey  the  Great. — obiceret:  on  spelling 
of  compounds  of  iaceo,  cf.  De  Pror.  2,  9,  n. — plus,  sc.  sanguinis : 
object  oi  fundere.  Soon  after  the  games  above  mentioned  (13, 
6,  N.)  Pompey  became  sole  consul,  with  dictatorial  powers  (b.c. 
52) ;  then  followed  the  events  which  led  to  the  inevitable  and 
bloody  struggle  with  Caesar,  and  its  results. — idem,  also ;  H. 
451,  3.  —  Alexandrina  perfidia  deceptus:  Pompey  had  been  a 
friend  to  Ptolemy,  brother  of  Cleopatra ;  but  nevertheless  he  was 
slain  through  the  treachery  of  the  young  king’s  advisers,  Pothi- 
nus, Theodotus,  and  Achillas. — ultimo,  last;  adv. — mancipio  : 
dat.  of  agent;  H.  388 ;  B,  &  M.  1310.  Pompey  was  stabbed  first 
by  L.  Septimius,  who  had  served  under  him  as  a  centurion  during 
Pompey’s  brilliant  campaign  against  the  pirates  in  the  Mediter¬ 
ranean.  He  was  aided  in  this  murder  by  Achillas,  to  whom 
Bouillet  applies  the  term  mancipio. — coguomiuis  sui,  i.  e.  Magnus, 
or  the  Great. 

2.  Sed  ut  .  .  .  revertar,  hut  to  return;  subj.  of  pui’pose.— 
idem,  he  likewise,  i.  e.  querndam,  13,  3.  —  Metellum :  consul,  b.c. 
251.  He  was  the  first  of  his  family  who  rose  to  eminence.  He 
defeated  Hasdrubal  in  Sicily  during  the  firet  Punic  war,  and  es¬ 
tablished  the  supremacy  of  Rome  in  that  island.  All  the  ele¬ 
phants  of  the  enemy  fell  into  his  hands,  and  he  was  the  first 
who  exhibited  these  animals  in  a  triumph. ^victis  Poeuis: 
ablat.  absol. — SuUam  ultimum,  etc.  This  statement  is  regarded 
as  doubtful.  The  poemerium  was  extended  as  the  city,  increased 
in  size,  but  it  was  done,  according  to  ancient  usage,  by  such  men 


DE  BREVITATE  VITAE.  XIV.  2-6. 


273 


as  had  by  their  victories  over  foreign  nations  enlarged  the  boun¬ 
daries  of  the  empire  (Tac.  Ann.  xii.  23).  After  Sulla,  it  is  claimed 
that  Julius  Caesar,  Augustus,  Claudius,  and  Aurelian  extended 
the  poemerium  (Cic.  ad  Attic,  xiii.  20).  Aurelian  was  the  last. — 
agro  adquisito ;  ablat.  absol. 

3.  ille,  i.  e.  quemdam.,  13,  3.  —  quod  plebs  eo  secessisset:  the 
plebs  revolted  and  withdrew  to  the  Aventine  hill,  b.c.  450,  and 
also  on  other  occasions.  The  Aventine  was  not  included  in  the 
poemerium  until  the  time  of  Claudius. — ut  conccdas  .  .  .  scri- 
bant,  although  you  grant;  concessive  subj. ;  B.  &  M.  1283. — ut  ad 
praestatioiiem  scribaut,  although  they  pledge  themsehes  for  the 
truth  of  what  they  write. — 4,  Fabianus :  cf.  10,  1,  n. — omnium : 
partit.  gen.  after  soli. — uec  .  .  .  tantum :  the  rising  to  something 
more  important  is  introduced  rarely  by  non  tantum.,  except  when 
the  subject  or  predicate  is  common  to  both  clauses;  non  solum 
and  non  modo  are  more  frequent ;  M.  461,  obs. — vitam :  Lips,  sug¬ 
gests  riam. 

5.  nullo  .  .  .  inter  dictum  est,  no  age  is  prohibited  us ;  seculo, 
ablat.  of  separation.  The  verb  interdicere,  with  its  own  case,  is 
more  frequently  followed  also  by  ablat.  of  separation  than  by 
accus. ;  Z.  469.  Cf.  Caesar,  Bell.  Oall.  i.  46  ;  Quintil.  vi.  3,  79. — • 
Disputare  cum  Socrate  licet,  sc.  nobis,  we  may  dispute  with 
Socrates. — Carneade  :  Carneades,  a  famous  philosopher,  founder 
of  the  Kew  Academy,  born  in  Cyrene,  Africa,  b.c.  213.  He  was 
a  pupil  of  Diogenes  at  Athens  for  a  time,  then  adopted  the  scep¬ 
ticism  of  the  Academics,  and  strongly  opposed  the  Stoics  on  the 
question  of  the  criterion  of  the  truth  of  our  knowledge.  Cf. 
Zeller’s  “  Stoics,  Epicureans,  and  Sceptics,”  p.  508-535 ;  also, 
Lewes’s  “  Hist,  of  Ancient  Philosophy.” — Epicure  quicsccrc :  the 
great  aim  of  Epicurus  was  to  free  men  from  all  apprehensions, 
pains,  etc.,  and  to  live  in  tranquil  security ;  cf.  Zeller,  as  above, 
p.  382,  etc. — Stoicis :  their  aim  was  to  subdue  every  passion  and 
to  live  according  to  nature,  as  they  phrased  it ;  cf.  Zeller,  Lewes, 
Class.  Diet.,  etc. — Cynicis  :  cf.  Be  Tranq.  8,  3,  n.  Biogenes. — cum 
.  .  .  patiatur:  causal. 

6.  Quidni  .  .  .  demus :  subj.  of  deliberation  is  used  in  ques¬ 
tions  as  to  what  may,  is  to  be,  or  should  be  done,  generally  with 
a  negative  force,  implying  that  it  has  not  beCn  or  will  not  be 


274 


NOTES. 


done;  11.484,  v.;  M.  353. —per  officia,/(?r  the  sake  of  paying 
court. — meritoriam,  that  expects  a  reward=m,ercenary. — illos,  i.  e. 
isti,  above.— 7.  cum  dill  torseriiit,  i.  e.  by  keeping  tliem  wait¬ 
ing.— simulata  .  .  .  traiiscurrant,  i.  e.  they  pass  them  by  with 
a  brief  notice,  through  pretence  of  being  hurried. — clientibus : 
after  refertum;  H.  421,  ii. — quasi  .  .  .sit:  H.  509,  513,  ii. — iu- 
susurratum,  sc.  rwmeiiclatm'ibus. 

8.  licet  dicamus :  Z.  624. — Zenonem :  cf.  Be  Tranq.  1, 7,  n. — 
Pythagoram :  native  of  Samos,  the  celebrated  Greek  philoso¬ 
pher,  flourished  b.c.  540-510;  vid.  Class.  Diet.  —  Deinocritum  : 
cf.  Be  Tranq.  2,  3,  n. — Aristotelem :  the  pupil  of  Plato,  founder 
of  the  Peripatetic  school,  and  second  only  to  Ms  master  in  the 
influence  he  has  exercised  and  still  continues  to  exercise  on  phi¬ 
losophy  ;  cf.  Zeller’s  “  Socrates  and  the  Socratic  Schools ;”  Ueber- 
weg’s  “  Hist,  of  Philosophy,”  vol.  i.  p.  137,  etc. — Theophrastum : 
a  Greek  philosopher,  born  in  Eresus,  Lesbos,  about  b.c.  375,  died 
B.c.  287.  He  became  a  favorite  pupil  of  Aristotle,  who,  on  his 
leaving  Athens  for  Chalcis,  designated  Theophrastus  for  the 
presidency  of  the  Lyceum,  and  in  his  will  left  him  his  library 
and  the  originals  of  his  writings.  Vid.  Class.  Diet. 

9.  Horum  te  .  .  .  coget :  perhaps  Seneca  was  even  now  an¬ 
ticipating  his  own  compulsory  death  at  the  hands  of  Nero ;  cf. 
Introduction  to  the  present  vol.,  p.  18. — conterit,  contribuit, 
V.  1.  conteret  contribuet;  conterit  —perdit. — nuUius  amicitia  capi- 
talis :  a  reference  to  the  condition  of  things  under  the  emperors 
of  Seneca’s  day,  when  strong  private  friendships  were  looked 
upon  with  suspicion,  and  regarded  as  almost  treasonable. — nul- 
lius  sumptuosai  observatio :  perhaps  a  reference  to  the  practice 
of  giving  costly  presents  to  the  emperor,  to  appease  his  wrath  or 
court  his  favor,  through  fear  of  his  avarice ;  cf.  Juvenal,  tiat.  iii. 
184,  etc. 

XV. — 1.  per  illos  non  stabit,  it  will  not  he  owing  to  them;  cf. 
Arnold’s  Lat.  Prose  Comp.  p.  203. — quo  minus  .  .  .  haurias,  that 
you  do  not  take  in  the  utmost  that  you  shall  have  capacity  to  re¬ 
ceive  ;  quo  minus— ut  non  ;  H.  497, 2. — plurimum  quantum :  to  ex¬ 
press  the  highest  degree  possible,  quantum  is  often  used  instead 
of  quam  with  the  superlat. ;  M.  309,  obs.  3 ;  Z.  689. — deliberet 


DE  BREVITATE  VITAE.  XV.  1-XVI.  5. 


275 


.  .  .  cousnlat  .  .  .  audiat  .  .  .  laudetur  .  .  .  efflngat :  for  subj., 
cf.  Z.  558. — laudetur,  sc.  aquihus. — Solemus  dicere:  for  similar 
thought,  ef.  Consol,  ad  Marc.  18, 6. — sortireiuur :  an  indirect  ques¬ 
tion  ;  H.  529.— forte  nobis  datos :  Lips,  objects  to  these  words 
as  superfluous,  since  the  idea  of  forte  is  implied  in  sortiremur. — 
nobis  .  .  .  nasci  licet,  i.  e.  the  mind  at  least  can  choose  its  intel¬ 
lectual,  moral,  and  spiritual  parents. 

2.  faniiliae :  Lips,  quotes  from  Cicero  {De  Or.  iii.  16),  a  Socrate 
proseminatae  sunt  quasi  famUiae^  dissentientes  inter  se  et  multum 
disiunciae ;  also  {JDe  Birin,  ii.  1,  Peripateticorum  familia. — 
maligne  =  inridiose  et  parce. — diviseris  =  distrilmeris. — deicitur 
=  dejidtur.,  v.  1.  ejiciet. — Iiaec  una  ratio  est,  etc.,  this  is  the  only 
way.,  etc. — decretis  anibitio  iussit:  whatever  the  ambition  of 
another  has  imposed  upon  us ;  Lips. — yetustas  =  tempus. — 3.  iis : 
governed  by  noceri. — sequens  ^  .  .  ulterior:  the  near  and  the 
far-off  future.— in  yicino,  near  at  hand.  Lips,  quotes  from  Vel¬ 
leius  Paterculus  (ii.  92),  praesentia  inridia,  pra£t€rita  reneratione 
prosequimur ;  et  his  nos  dbrui^  illis  instrui  credimus.  —  idem  .  .  . 
qui,  the  same  .  .  .  as. — legibus :  ablat.  of  separation. — 4.  Transit, 
V.  1.  transiit. — hoc  praecipit,  i.  e.  praesumit,  anticipat. — dum  .  .  . 
agunt :  M.  369,  obs.  3. 

XVI. —  1.  Nec  est,  quod  .  .  .  putes:  cf.  De  Tranq.  2,  2,  n. — 
hoc  argumento  =  gwia  interdum^  etc. — dum  yeniat  :  H.  519. — 
condictum  statutum.  —  id  otium.  —  2.  muneris  gladiatorii ; 
the  gladiatorial  show  is  said  to  have  had  its  origin  from  the  cus¬ 
tom  among  the  Etruscans  of  killing  slaves  and  captives  at  the 
funeral  pyres  of  the  deceased.  Gladiators  were  first  exhibited  at 
Rome,  B.c.  264,  by  M.  and  D.  Brutus,  at  the  funeral  of  their  father 
(Livy,  Ep)it.  16).  Vid.  Diet.  Antiq.  —  constitutum,  sc.  tempus. — - 
medios  dies :  shows  were  held  in  the  afternoon. — ad  illud  tem¬ 
pus,  compared  with  that  time. — suo  vitio,  through  their  own  fault. 

3.  Quid  aliud  .  .  .  quam  auctores  illis  inscribere ;  M.  444  b, 

obs.  1. — morbo  =  adfectui.  —  exemplo  diviuitatis  excusa- 

tam  :  cf.  Be  Vit.  Beat.  26. — 4.  lucis  metu,  i.  e.  through  fear  that 
the  light  will  soon  dawn  upon  them. — —  exsultantes 
on  use  of  is  for  es  in  acc.  plur.,  cf.  Z.  68,  note ;  exsultantis,  sc.  eos. — ; 
5.  Cum  .  .  .  ’^e^xvx^^x^X  —  cmprehenderet.  —  nieusuram  :  Herod^ 


276 


NOTES. 


otus  (vii.  184-187)  gives  the  story  in  full  as  to  the  mode  adopted 
for  numbering  the  vast  army  and  followers  of  the  Persian  king. 
The  total  of  over  five  millions  in  all  is  generally  discredited  in 
modern  times.  Cf.  Grote,  “  Hist,  of  Greece,”  vol.  iv.  p.  380-385  ; 
Rawlinson’s  “Herodotus,”  vol.  iv.  pp.  138, 139. — Persarum  rex, 
i.  e.  Xerxes, 

XVII.— 1,  Quid,  quod:  elliptical  expression,  wTiat  shall  we  say 
to  this,  that,  or,  how  is  it,  that;  M.  479  d,  obs,  1. — Maxima  quae* 
que :  cf.  De  Prov.  3,  3,  n. — nee  ulli  fortuuae  .  .  .  creditur ;  cf. 
Livy,  XXX.  30,  Maximae  cuique  forPanae  minimae  credendum  est — 
“  The  highest  fortune  is  always  least  to  be  trusted ;”  fortunae, 
dat.  after  creditur.  Various  intransitive  verbs  that  take  dat.  in 
active  retain  that  case  in  passive ;  such  verbs  must  then  be  used 
impersonally ;  M.  344  b. 

2.  opportunius,  more  inclined  or  liable. — casura,  things  that  will 
soon  fall  away,  perish;  in  this  instance,  high  states  of  felicity.— 
maiore,  sc.  Idbore. — Nulla  .  .  .  ratio  est,  meanwhile  there  is  no 
care  of  time,  that  will  merer  more  return. — 3.  materia,  sc.  miseri- 
arum. — plus  .  .  .  auferuut,  i.  e.  in  enhancing  the  honors  of  oth¬ 
ers  ;  alieni,  sc.  honores. — desimus  =  desirimus. — Accusandi  =  acti~ 
ta.ndi ;  Lips. — Marium  caliga  dimisit?  Marius  received  leave 
of  absence  from  the  war  against  Jugurtha,  and,  repairing  to  Rome, 
was  chosen  consul,  b.c.  107. — ^caliga  =  military  life,  or  service  in 
an  inferior  grade. 

4.  Quintius,  i.  e.  Cincinnatus,  who  was  made  dictator  a  second 
time  at  the  age  of  80 ;  cf.  Cic.  De  Senect.  16  ;  Livy,  ix.  13-15. — 
praevadere,  v.  1.  perradere.  —  Scipio :  P.  Corn.  Scipio  Africanus 
Major,  was  appointed  to  the  command  of  the  army  in  Spain, 
operating  against  the  Carthaginians,  n.c.  310.  At  the  age  of  34 
he  conquered  Hannibal  at  Zama,  and  took  Carthage,  b.c.  303. 
In  order  to  secure  the  province  of  Greece  to  his  brother,  he 
promised  to  act  as  bis  lieutenant  (kgatus)  in  the  war  against 
Antiochus  the  Great,  king  of  Syria,  and  thus  he  became,  as  it 
were,  sponsor  for  the  success  of  his  brother’s  consulship.  He 
conquered  Antiochus  in  a  decisive  battle  at  Mount  Sipylus,  in 
Asia  Minor.  Through  envious  spite  and  jealousy  he  was  charged 
with  being  bribed  so  as  to  allow  Antiochus  too  easy  terms ;  hence. 


DE  BKEVITATE  VITAE.  XVII.  4-XVIII.  4. 


27T 


in  disgust  at  the  ingratitude  of  the  Romans,  he  left  the  city  and 
retired  to  his  country-seat  at  Linternum.  Here  he  spent  the  re¬ 
mainder  of  his  days  in  the  cultivation  of  his  estate.  Cf.  Epist. 
86, 1-5 ;  Livy,  xxxviii,  50-60. — fraterni,  sc.  repone- 

tur,  V.  1.  reponeretur. 

XVin.— 1.  non  pro  aetatis  spatio  iactatuSj  i.  e.  tossed  about 
in  public  affairs  out  of  proportion  to  the  length  of  his  life.  It 
would  seem  from  what  follows  {maior  pars^  etc.)  that  he  had  en¬ 
tered  upon  his  office  while  still  youthful. — publicas  in  te  con- 
verteris.  It  is  not  known  to  what  disturbances  the  author  re- 
,fers.  He  seems  to  praise  the  fidelity  and  patriotism  of  Paulinus 
in  taking  upon  himself  the  odium,  of  some  troubles  for  the  sake 
of  the  public  good. — facial,  sc.  mrtus. 

2.  Tu  .  .  .  administras :  an  exaggerated  statement.  He  was 
not  minister  of  the  finances,  but  simply  praefectus  annonae^  a  per¬ 
manent  office  under  the  emperors,  who  had  jurisdiction  over  all 
matters  pertaining  to  the  corn-market,  and,  like  the  praefectus 
rigilumy  was  chosen  from  the  equites. — odium  vitare  difficile  est : 
Ixjcause  it  is  difficult  to  satisfy  so  many  thousands  of  people. 

3.  ministerio  honoriflco :  under  the  republic  men  of  consu¬ 
lar  rank  superintended  the  distribution  of  com.  Pompey  was 
charged  with  this  duty  for  five  years,  and  Augustus  took  upon 
himself  the  office  until  he  appointed  the  praefectus  annmiae  as  a 
permanency.  Lips,  quotes  from  Boethius,  siquis  quondam  populi 
curasset  annonam^  magnus  Tiabebatur ;  nunc  ea  Praefectura  quid 
atgectius  f — cogita  non  id  egisse  te,  reflect  that  you  did  not  make 
this  the  otgect  of  your  action. — id,  viz.  ut  committer entur. — milia,  sc. 
modioi'um. — Non  deernnt,  etc.,  i.  e.  men  suitable  will  not  be  want¬ 
ing  to  fill  the  place  you  vacate. — ohicere  =  ohjicere :  on  spelling 
of  compounds  of  iaceo  or  iacia^  cf.  De  Prov.  2,  8,  n. — cum  ventre 
.  .  .  negotium  est,  you  have  to  do  with  the  human  appetite;  cf. 
Homer,  Odyss.  xvii.  286. 

4.  C.  Caesar,  i.  e.  Caligula. — hoc,  viz.  quod  decedehat  populo 
Romano  superstite. — superesse :  this  is  the  reading  of  the  mss., 
but  Lips,  is  probably  correct  in  the  suggestion  that  it  should  read 
super&rantyOV  superfuere. — dum  .  .  .  ludit:  that  he  might  be  able 
to  boast  of  having  marched  over  the  sea  as  on  dry^land,  he  con- 


278 


NOTES. 


structed  across  the  channel  between  Baiae  and  Puteoli  (a  distance 
of  three  Homan  miles  and  six  hundred  paces)  a  bridge  with  boats 
that  ought  to  have  been  used  in  conveying  corn  for  the  famish¬ 
ing  people.  He  squandered  all  that  Tiberius  left  in  the  treasury 
(720,000,000  sesterces),  and  spent  continually  more  than  the  rev¬ 
enues  of  the  state. — imperi :  gen.  for  imperii  ;  Z,  49,  note  1. 

5.  Exitio  .  .  .  fame  .  .  .  ruina :  ablat.  of  price ;  H.  422 ;  B. 
&  M.  884 ;  Z.  444.  —  superbi  regis,  i.  e.  Xerxes.  —  saxa,  ferrum, 
ignes,  Caium  excepturi :  the  idea  is  that  they  would  meet  these 
things  if  they  did  not  conceal  the  knowledge  of  the  scarcity  of 
provisions.  Observe  the  climax,  Caium  being  placed  last,  as  if 
the  sight  of  Caligula  were  the  worst  penalty.  Cf.  De  Ira^  iii,  19, 

1,  where  Seneca,  in  enumerating  this  tyrant’s  cruelties,  says  that 
he  tortured  with  rope,  rack,  fire,  and  his  own  countenance. — 
inter  viscera,  sc.  urMs. — tegebaiit :  object,  tantum  .  .  .  mali. 

XIX.— 1.  esse:  its  subject-accus.  is  what?— ■  cures  .  .  .  ac- 
cedas :  indirect  questions. — horrea :  granaries  were  built  in  va¬ 
rious  parts  of  the  city,  in  which  the  public  stores  were  placed. — 
an  ad  haec,  etc. :  these  were  some  of  the  questions  much  dis¬ 
cussed  among  the  Stoics ;  cf.  Zeller,  Ueberweg,  Lewes,  before  re¬ 
ferred  to,  14,  5,  N. ;  also,  Epist.  113,  where  Seneca  has  a  curious 
and  rather  amusing  discussion  of  certain  Stoic  questions. — scitu- 
rns:  expresses  purpose. — uM  nos  .  .  .  natura  conponat:  cf. 
Epist.  64,  where  Seneca,  writing  of  the  death  of  his  fiiend  Serc- 
nus,  says,  “  And  perchance  (if  the  opinion  of  wise  men  be  true, 
and  any  place  receive  us)  he,  who  we  suppose  has  perished, 
has  only  been  sent  before.” — gravissima  qnaeqne :  cf.  Be  Pror. 

2,  2,  N. — snpra :  adverb. — suminum  ignem,  i.  e.  aetherem. — vici- 
bns,  V.  1.  cursilrus. — cetera :  object  of  sciturus. 

2.  solo  =  —  vigentibus,  sc.  nobis:  dat.  after  gerundive; 

neuter  of  gerundive  of  intransitive  verbs  is  used  with  esse.,  to 
signify  that  the  action  must  be  done.  The  subject  which  has  to 
do  something  is  then  put  in  the  dative,  as  with  ordinary  gerund¬ 
ive  ;  M.  421. — in  hoc  genere  vitae,  i.  e.  in  a  life  devoted  to  the 
investigation  of  such  questions  as  the  above. — hoc  =  tali. — bona- 
rum  artium  —philosophiae. — alta  rerum  quies,  a  profound  rest 
from  worldly  affairs. — amare  et  odisse,  sc.  ad  alienum  awiorem., 


DE  BREVITATE  VITAE.  XIX.  2-XX.  4.  279 

et  alienum  odium. — res :  in  apposition  with  the  several  words, 
somnum.^  etc. ;  cf.  Pliny,  Panegyricus.,  85,  3. 

3.  Cum  videris  .  .  .  snmptam,  i.  e.  when  you  shall  see  the 
magistracy  assumed  a  second:  or  third  time,  or  even  more. — ut 
uiius  .  .  .  anuns :  in  other  words,  to  attain  the  consulship. 
Under  the  republic  the  year  received  its  name  from  the  consuls, 
and  in  all  public  documents  their  names  marked  the  year.  Un¬ 
der  the  empire,  when  there  were  many  consuls  during  the  year, 
at  the  will  or  caprice  of  the  emperor,  the  year  was  designated 
from  those  only  who  entered  upon  their  office  at  the  beginning 
of  the  year,  and  were  called  consules  ordinarii. — antequam  .  .  . 
eniterentur :  the  subj.  is  used  with  antequam  if  purpose  is  im¬ 
plied  and  the  action  does  not  take  place.  In  this  case  the  at¬ 
tainment  of  ambition  is  prevented  by  death.  Cf.  M.  360,  etc. — 
luctaiitis  =  luctantes.  —  aetas  reliquit  =  mta  reliquit.  —  titulum 
sepulcri:  for  the  sole  reward  that  honors  might  be  inscribed 
upon  their  sepulchres. 

XX.— 1.  spiritus  liquit :  cf.  aetas  reliquit.,  19,  3,  n. — quern  ac- 
cipiendis  inmorientem  rationihus,  i.  e.  dying  while  he  is  in  the 

very  act  of  making  and  receiving  his  worldly  gains ;  rationibus., 
dat.  after  in  in  composition. — diu  tractus,  long  put  off.,  i.  e.  by  the 
long  life  of  the  one  whose  heir  he  is. — 2.  Turaunius :  he  was  ap¬ 
pointed  to  the  office  of  praefectus  annonae  by  Augustus  just  before 
his  death,  and  was  the  first  incumbent  after  that  position  was 
made  permanent. — vacationem,  i.  e.  dismissal ;  Tacit.  Ann.  i.  7 ; 
xi.  31 ;  Sueton.  August.  37.  —  conponi  se,  viz.  ut  moribundum.  — 
iuvat,  sc.  alicui. — nullo  alio  nomine,  on  no  other  account. — 3.  a 
quinquagcsimo  anno ;  cf.4, 1,  n. — in  conspicuo,  before  the  eyes. — 
nemo  non,  evei^y  one;  7a.  755. 

4.  Quidam  .  .  .  disponunt :  persons  generally  left  a  sum  of 
money  with  which  to  build  tlieir  tombs,  but  frequently  they  were 
built  during  the  lifetime  of  their  intended  occupants.  Augustus, 
in  his  sixth  consulship,  built  the  mausoleum  between  the  Via 
Flaminia  and  the  Tiber,  and  planted  around  it  woods  and  laid 
out  walks  for  public  use.  On  the  Via  Appia  and  other  roads 
tombs  were  erected  extending  for  miles.  Cf.  Ouhl  &  Koner’s 
“The  Life  of  the  Greeks  and  Romans,”  p.  375-386. — munera: 


280 


NOTES. 


gladiators,  called  hustuarii,  were  often  hired  to  fight  around  the 
burning  funeral  pile ;  cf  Hor.  Sat.  ii.  3,  85. — exsequias :  this  term 
was  usually  applied  to  the  funeral  procession  (pompa  funebris). 
The  order  of  the  procession  was  regulated  by  the  designator  fune- 
riSj  who  was  attended  by  lictors  dressed  in  black  (Cic.  JDe  Legib. 
ii.  24).  It  was  headed  by  musicians,  and  accompanied  by  hired 
mourners,  players,  bufibons,  etc.  The  freedmen  of  the  deceased 
followed,  wearing  the  cap  of  liberty.  For  a  full  account  of  fu¬ 
nerals  among  the  Romans,  cf.  Diet.  Antiq.,  article  ‘‘  Funus also, 
Guhl  &  Koner’s  work,  referred  to  above. — ad  faces  et  cereos 
ducenda  sunt :  the  funerals  of  children  and  of  those  who  died 
very  early  in  life  were,  for  the  most  part,  celebrated  at  night ;  cf. 
Be  Trang.  11, 5,  n.  ;  Epist.  122, 10.  . 


DE  VITA  BEATA. 

Akgumentum. — I.  A  happy  life  is  sought  foi*  by  all,  but  what  it  is,  ov  ' 
how  it  can  be  attained,  there  is  general  ignorance.  II.,  III.  Concerning 
good  and  happy  life  we  must  not  think  with  the  vulgar,  but  with  the 
best  and  noblest.  Happy  life,  according  to  Stoic  teaching.  IV., V.  Full* 
er  description  of  the  highest  good.  Happy  life  rests  on  reason  and 
virtue,  not  ou  pleasure.  VI.  Virtue  cannot  be  copulated  with  pleasure. 
Criticism  on  some  sayings  of  Epicurus’s  followers.  VII.,  VIII.  Virtue 
cannot  be  joined  to  an  evil  life,  to  which  voluptas  leads.  To  live  hap¬ 
pily,  and  according  to  nature,  is  the  same  thing,  reason  alone  being 
mistress.  IX.-XI.  Virtue  is  sought  for  its  own  sake.  He  proceeds  to 
discriminate  by  showing  what  separates  Epicureans  and  Stoics  concern¬ 
ing  the  highest  good.  XII.,  XIII.  They  do  not  truly  follow  Epicurus 
who  seek  pleasure  alone,  for  he  enjoined  good  and  right  things.  XIV., 
XV.  Pleasure  must  obey  the  rule  of  reason  and  virtue.  He  repeats 
that  virtue  and  pleasure  cannot  be  forced  into  union.  XVI.-XVIII. 
Virtue  alone  suffices  for  living  happily;  why,  then,  is  more  required? 
Answer:  Not  a  philosopher’s  life  merely,  but  his  precepts  to  be  accept¬ 
ed  and  followed.  XIX.,  XX.  Objections  against  philosophers  frivolous. 
They  persuade  to  noble  deeds,  though  they  may  not  act  equal  to  what 
they  say.  XXI.-XXIII.  Repels  calumnies,  many  of  which  were  prob¬ 
ably  directed  against  Seneca  himself.  A  wise  man  does  not  despise 
riches,  which,  although  held  by  the  Stoics  to  be  among  indifferent 
things,  afford  mateiial  and  field  for  practice  of  virtue.  XXIV.-XXVI. 
On  use  of  wealth  for  divers  good  purposes.  A  wise  man  holds  riches  to 
be  useful,  but  not  necessarily  a  good.  Difference  between  a  foolish  rich 
man  and  a  wise  rich  man.  XXVII.,  XXVIII.  Earnest  and  forceful  words 
of  Socrates  against  slanderers  of  truth  and  virtue. 


Cap.  I.  — 1.  Gallio:  L.  Junius,  the  elder  brother  of  Seneca. 
His  name  originally  was  M.  Annaeus  Novatus,  but  after  hiS 
adoption  by  the  rhetorician,  Junius  Gallio,  he  was  named  after 
his  adopted  father.  He  is  said  to  have  committed  suicide,  a.d. 
65.  The  present  treatise  addressed  to  him  was  written  probably 
by  Seneca  in  the  latter  part  of  his  life,  when  he  had  become  an 
object  of  calumny  to  many  on  account  of  his  wealth.  It  may  not 
improperly  be  considered  as  in  some  sort  a  defence  of  his  own 


2S2 


NOTES. 


life  as  well  as  an  apology  for  liis  great  wealth.— eo  .  .  .  quo : 
M.  270,  obs.  1. — si  via  lapsus  est,  if  he  has  slipped  from^  i.  e.  lost 
the  way. — itaque :  expresses  relation  of  cause  in  facts  (Z.  344, 
note) :  since  men  are  blind  to  perceive,  etc.,  therefore. — illo  :  ad¬ 
verb  ;  literally,  to  that  place  =  thereto. — intellecturi ;  fut.  part,  de¬ 
noting  design;  H.  549,  3;  B.  &  M.  1355. — profligetur,  v.  1. 
ficiamus.,  because  of  the  unusual  signification  in  which  profligare 
is  here  used.  Lips,  quotes  from  Livy,  ita  fortasse  decuit.^  deos  ipsos 
committere  ac  profligare  helium^  nos  auiem  commissum  ac  profliga- 
turn  covflcere.  He  also  refers  to  Tacitus  and  other  writers  as  using 
the  word  in  the  same  sense,  and  remarks  profligare  is  to  en¬ 
ter  upon  and  carry  forward  an  action  to  a  considerable  extent, 
although  not  quite  to  completion. — quautoque  .  .  .  simus,  and 
how  much  nearer  we  are  to  that;  db  belongs  to  simus,  separated 
by  tmesis.  ^ 

2.  laboremus:  concessive  subj. — cui:  dat.  of  agent;  H.  515; 
B.  &  M.  1281;  A.  &  Gr.  266  c.  r. — hic:  adverb=in  this  case. — 
In  illis  ...  at  liic :  antithetical.— conpreiisus  .  .  ,  interrogati : 
conditional  participles. — limes,  i.  e.  via  agrestis  angustaque. — tri- 
tissima  quaeque  .  .  ,  celeberrima,  all  the  best  beaten  and  most 
frequented  paths ;  vid.  Arnold’s  Lat.  Prose  Comp.,  quaeque  with 
superlat. ;  also,  De  Prov.  2,  2,  N. — 3.  pecorum  ritu :  a  very  ap¬ 
propriate  figure,  which,  according  to  Plutarch,  Cato  the  Elder 
once  used  in  regard  to  the  Roman  peoj)le :  “  You,  he  said,  are 
like  a  flock  of  sheep.  You  do  not  severally  obey  different  ones, 
but  as  a  whole  you  follow  after  any  one  who  will  be  your  lead¬ 
er.” — sed  quo  itur,  but  lohere  the  mass  are  accustomed  to  go.  Ob¬ 
serve  that  iUir  expresses  customary  action. — coiipouimur  =  we 
connect  ourselves  with  everv  rumor;  verb  used  in  a  middle 
sense. — ad  similitudiiieiii,  according  to  the  example  or  manner  of 
men. — aliorum  super  alios,  one  upon  one,  and  another  upon  anoth¬ 
er,  or,  one  upon  the  other. 

4.  ipse  :  when  does  this  agree  with  the  subject  rather  than  the 
object  ?  M.  487  b. — preiiiit,  press  hard  or  crowd. — nemo  .  .  .  er- 
rat ;  suggestive  of  St.  Paul’s  words,  Rom.  xiv.  7,  “  For  none  of  us 
liveth  to  himself,”  etc.,  though  used  in  a  different  connection. — 
hoc:  antecedent  to  quod,  above. — videas  licet:  cf.  M.  361;  Z. 
574.— et  causa  et  auctor,  the  cause  as  well  as  the  occasion;  Z.  338. 


DE  VITA  BEATA.  1.4-11.1. 


283 


— adplicari :  siil>ject-infin.  oi  nocet. — Ycrsat,  i.  e.  solUcitat,  twrhat; 
subject,  erro)-.  —  traditus  per  maims,  handed  or  delivered  down 
from  hand  to  hand^  i.  e.  from  father  to  son. — 5.  comitiis :  on  the 
Roman  comitia^  cf.  Diet.  Antiq. — mobilis  —fickle^  inconstant;  ap¬ 
plied  to  any  thing  readily  moved  about  by  force  of  the  winds,  as 
a  weathercock,  etc. ;  cf.  Cicero,  Pro  Murena^  17 ;  Hor.  Od.  i.  1,7, 
8. — se  .  .  .  circumegit,  has  whirled  itself  about. — in  quo  secun¬ 
dum  plures  datur,  in  which  judgment  is  given  by  the  majority^  i.  e. 
in  which  the  majority  rule. 

II,— 1.  non  est  quod  .  .  .  respondeas,  there  is  no  occasion  for 
your  answering ;  cf.  Be  Tranq.  1,  2,  n.  ;  respondeas,  subj.  in  an  in- 
defin.  relative  sentence ;  Z.  561  b,  562 ;  H.  503,  note  2 ;  M.  372, 
obs.  6. — discessionum :  there  were  three  ways  in  which  the  vote 
was  taken  in  the  Senate — l,*by  voice,  wlien  each  senator  re¬ 
sponded  to  the  question  of  the  consul,  assentio;  2,  when  difference 
of  opinions  existed,  the  leaders  took  their  positions  on  separate 
seats,  and  their  several  supporters  ranged  themselves  by  their 
side;  this  was  called  pedibus  sententiam  ire,  or  the  decision  per 
discessionem ;  3,  remaining  in  their  seats,  they  signified  assent 
with  uplifted  hands ;  Lips. — Haec  pars  .  .  .  videtur :  the  usual 
formula  of  declaring  the  vote,  similar  to  our  “  the  ayes,  or  noes, 
seem  to  have  it.” — peior  est :  cf.  Epist.  29,  10,  quid  .  .  .  philo- 
sophia  praestabitf  etc. — Non  tarn  .  .  .  agitur,  it  does  not  go  so 
well  with  human  affairs. — volgo  :  dat.  of  agent,  by  what  rule  ?  H. 
388, 1 ;  B.  &  M.  844  ;  A,  &  G.  232  b. — tain  chlamydatos  quam 
coronatos,  for  tarn  coronatos  quam  chlamydatos,  a  kind  of  hystero- 
logia  frequent  in  Seneca ;  literally,  as  well  those  wreathed  with  a 
crown  as  those  who  wear  the  chlamys.  This  was  a  Grecian  scarf, 
originally  military,  but  afterwards  worn  by  actors,  women  and 
children,  and  also  by  common  soldiers.  The  youths  wore  it 
until  the  age  of  twenty.  The  coronati  were  the  victors,  either 
soldiers,  poets,  pugilists,  etc.,  who  received  a  crown  of  garlands ; 
vid.  Diet.  Antiq.  The  words  indicate  figuratively  two  classes  of 
mankind,  high  and  low,  noble  and  ignoble,  etc.  Lips,  conject¬ 
ures,  candidatos  quam  colcn^atos,  i.  e.  as  well  those  clothed  in  wiiitc 
as  those  attired  in  colored  clothes,  on  the  ground  that  the  more 
respectable  were  clothed  in  white,  and  thus  distinguished  from 


284 


NOTES. 


the  rabble,  the  colorati.  He  urges  this  as  being  more  consistent 
with  the  context,  Non  enim  colorem  vestium^  etc. 

2.  oculis  .  .  .  non  credo:  since  with  the  eyes  the  real  life 
cannot  be  seen ;  credo^  with  dat.,  I  trust. — diiudicem :  subj.  of  re^ 
suit;  H.  503,  note  2 ;  B,  &  M.  1218. — tortus  a  se,  tested  or  tried  hy 
itself  i.  e.  after  self-examination. — in  mnltis  rideo,  v.  1.  mutis  in-^ 
mdeo. — quanto  :  adverb. — levins,  v.  1.  melius. — 3,  si  modo  .  ^  ^ 
gratia  est :  a  modification  of  the  main  statement.  Lips,  quotes 
Sallust,  inter  honos  amicitia.,  inter  malps  f actio  est.  —  ut  me  .  .  . 
educerem,  to  withdraw  myself  from. — aliqua  dote  =;  by  some  par¬ 
ticular  gift  or  talent,  or,  perhaps,  by  some  marked  action ;  a  fire- 
quent  post-Aug.  meaning. — quid  aliud  quaiii  .  .  .  opposui,  what 
else  did  I  do  Imt  oppose  myself  to  the  weapons.  A  tense  of  fac&i'e  is 
omitted  in  short  propositions  containing  an  opinion  on  a  person’s 
action;  tins  is  so  in  various  phrases,  Cf,  Z,  771.  —  aut,  quod  ill 
aequo  est,  or,  what  is  to  the  same  purpose. — esse  :  supply  hostes. — 
populus,  throng.,  or  multitude  ;  j)ost-Aug.  signification. 

III.— 1.  Quin  (from  qui-ne.,  non) :  primarily  means,  how  not^ 
why  not;  cf.  M.  3'^,  obs.  5. — usu,  in  respect  to  quod  sen- 

tiain,  which  I  experience,  i.  e.  in  animo,  like  the  French  sentir, — 
seutiam/.  .  .  ostendain:  subj.  after  relat.  with  indefinite  antece¬ 
dent. — ostendam,  in  apparatu  et  pompa ;  Lips.— ad  quae  con- 
sistitur,  sc.  populis,  near  which  people  delay. — foris,  i.  e.  extHnse- 
cus,  on  the  outside,  outwardly ;  opposed  to  introrsus,  on  the  in¬ 
side,  inwardly ;  cf.  Be  Prov.  6, 4,  n. — in  speciem  (for  ablat.  specie)  ^ 
for  appearancd  sake. — a  secretiore  parte  =  in  that  which  is  less 
visible  to  the  eye. — Hoc,  i.  e.  a  secfretiore  parte. — emainus  =  ime- 
niamus. 

2.  circumitus :  post- Aug.,  circumlocutions. — et  .  .  .  et,  as  well 
...  as.  —  coarguere,  i.  e.  confutare.  —  non  adligo  me,  etc. :  cf. 
Epist.  45,  4,  to  the  same  purpose. — procerihus,  i.  e.  Zeno,  Chry- 
sippus,  Cleanthes. — censendi  ins,  the  right  of  expressing  opinion, 
or  of  wting.  This  and  the  following  sentences,  to  Hoc  amplius 
censeo  inclusive,  embody  the  phraseology  of  the  Senate  in  legisla¬ 
tion. — sententiam  dividere,  i,  e.  to  divide  a  proposition  .contain¬ 
ing  several  parts,  so  that  the  question  might  be  taken  on  each 
separately.  The  call  was  made,  divide  (imperative). — citatus : 


DE  VITA  BEATA.  III.  2-IV.  4. 


285 


each  senator  was  called  upon  in  the  order  of  his  rank. — rerum 
naturae,  nature^  the  deus  of  the  Stoics. 

3.  Beata  est  .  .  .  suae:  in  this  the  Stoics  placed  the  highest 
good  of  man.  Lips,  quotes  Chrysippus,  to  teXoq  elvai  •  dKoXovOujg 
ry  <pv(jH  Kyv. — coiivenieus,  harmonious  loith. — quae  =  et  haec^  i.  e. 
vita.  —  patiens:  cf.  Be  Constant.  Sap.  14,  2.  —  sine  admiratioiie  : 
cf.  Horace’s  well-known  nil  admirari,  etc,,  Bpist.  i.  6, 1. — usura 
.  .  .  seryitura :  fut,  part,  denoting  inclination,  inclined  to  tise, 
inclined  to  he  in  servitude. — 4.  perpetuam  .  .  .  lihertatem :  cf. 
Eijist.  92, 3,  quid  est  heata  vita  ?  etc. — in  ipsis  flagitiis  noxia,  i.  e. 
in  the  case  of  acts  done  in  the  heat  of  passion,  hurtful. — omnis 
.  .  .  feritas :  cf.  Be  Ira^  i.  16,  27. 

IV. — 1.  eadem  sententia,  potest. — non:  modifies  iisdem,  not 
the  same z=z different  (aliis). — sinuata  media  parte:  ablat,  absol., 
the  middle  swelling  outward  like  a  crescent. — illi :  dat.  of  posses¬ 
sion;  H.  387;  B.  &  M.  821;  A,  &  231. —standi :  limits  volun¬ 
tas.,  desire  of  making  a  stand.  —  ita :  answer  to  quemadmodum., 
above.  —  finitio,  v.  1.  dejinltio.  —  exporrigi:  post-Aug.,  used  by 
Pliny,  Persius,  etc. — colligi,  compressed.,  i.  e.  comprised  in  a  few 
words. — 2.  conversantium  cura,  regard  for  those  much  in  one's 
company.,  those  with  whom  one  associates  much ;  conversor  is 
post-iiug.,  much  used  by  Seneca;  cf.  He  Clement,  i,  3,2. — flnire 
=  definire,  to  define. — extollant  .  .  .  frangant  .  .  .  noverit :  con¬ 
secutive  subjunctives. 

3.  si  evagari  \Ci\%.,  if  you  wish  to  amplify.— Silmm  .  .  .  facieiii, 
one  and  another  (i,  e.  different)  aspect.  The  thought  is,  you  may 
view  the  same  idea  in  different  aspects,  provided  its  force  remain 
unimpaired.  —  potestate,  i.  e,  significatione. — prohibet:,  usually 
followed  as  a  verb  of  hindering  by  quominus  or  with  subj., 
but  sometimes,  as  in  this  instance,  by  accus.  with  infin, ;  Z.  544, 
note. — interritum,  undismayed  hy  fear  ;  cf.  Cic.  Tusc.  Bisp.  v.  14, 
volumus  eum.,  qui  heatus  sit.,  tutum  esse.,  inexpugnohilem.,  septum 
atque  munitum  ;  non  ut  parvo  metu  praeditus  sit,  sed  ut  nullo, 

4.  velit  nolit :  familiar  expression  for  sive  velit,  sive  nolit,  sup¬ 
pose  he  were  willing,  suppose  he  were  unwilling,  i.  e.  whether  he 
were  willing  or  not;  M.  442  b,  obs, — sequatur ;  consecutive  subj., 
ut  being  omitted  after  necesse  est ;  M.  373,  obs.  1 ;  Z.»C25. — ex  alto. 

•  N 


286 


NOTES. 


from  the  depths  of  the  heart.— ui  quae=(?ww  ea.  The  force  of ' 
qui  in  causal  sentences  is  increased  by  ut ;  II.  517;  B.  &  M.  1253, 
obs.  2. — corpusculi:  diminutive  used  as  an  expression  of  con¬ 
tempt. — ^t—etiam. — quo  die,  etc.,  on  the  day  he  shall  become  the 
slave  of  pleasure  he  will  become  the  subject  of  pain. 

V.  — 1.  servitutem:  after  serviturus  sit,  accus.  of  kindred  sig¬ 
nification;  dl.  371,  1,  3;  B.  &  M.  713;  A.  &  G.  238. — dominia— 
domini.  —  alternis,  sc.  vichhus,  by  turns,  alternately.  —  exeundum 
.  .  .  est,  sc.  nobis,  we  must  rise  into  liberty. — in  tuto  conlocata, 
securely  established. — diffusio  auimi  =  laetitia,  serenitas. — ex  bono 
suo  ortis,  those  things  that  arise  from  his  own  goodness,  i.  e.  the 
fruit  of  good  inhering  in  him. 

2.  Quoniain  .  .  .  rationis,  since  I  have  begun  to  treat  this  mat¬ 
ter  largely,  or  liberally,  I  may  add  that  he  can  be  called  blessed  who, 
by  the  aid  of  reason,  neither  desires  nor  fears  anything. — cupit  iiec 
timet,  sc.  quidquam. — Quouiam  et :  the  ellipsis  in  the  thought 
may  be  supplied  thus,  “  I  mention  reason  because,”  etc. ;  quo- 
niam  assigns  a  motive  rather  than  a  conclusive  reason ;  Z.  346. — 
dixerit:  perf  subj.  used  as  softened  indie.,  not  essentially  differ¬ 
ent  from  fut.,  any  one  will  not  call  them  happy,  etc. 

3.  illis,  i.  e.  peeoribus  et  animalibus.  —  extra  veritatem  pro- 
iectus,  one  who  has  taken  himself  outside  the  pale  of  truthfulness. — 
lacerationes,  vellicatioiies :  the  former  refer  to  the  body,  the 
latter  to  the  mind;  cf.  De  Ira,  iii.  43,  5.  —  statui'a  semper  ubi 
constitit,  proposing,  i.  e.  resolving  to  stand  where  she  has  taken  her 
stand. — ac  .  .  .  viudicatura,  and  determined  to  maintain  her  posi¬ 
tion  even  against  an  irate  and  hostile  fortune.  Observe  use  of  fut. 
parts. — 4,  Nam  quod  .  .  .  pertinet,  in  regard  to  pleasure. — 
omnes  vias,  all  avenues  of  the  senses. — aliaque  ex  aliis  admoveat, 
and  though  she  applies  one  means  of  ter  another  ;  admoveat:  concess. 
subj.;  H.  515;  B.  &  M.  1282. — velit:  deliberative  subj.;  H.  484, 
V. ;  B.  &  M.  1780.--deserto  animo  .  .  .  dare,  to  attend  to  the  body 
at  the  expense  of  the  mind;  deserto  animo:  abl.  absol. 

VI.  — 1.  iuquit,  says  he,  i.  c.  the  Epicurean,  the  man  who  finds 
happiness  in  pleasure,  and  who  confounds  the  pleasures  of  the 
body  with  tho^e  of  the  mind.  —  arbiter:  in  apposition  with 


/ 


DE  VITA  BEATA.  VI.  1-VII.  2. 


287 


what?  —  praeterita  respiciat,  etc, :  a  dogma  of  Epicurus,  that 
the  wise  man  enjoys  present,  recalls  past,  and  anticipates  future 
pleasures ;  cf.  Cic.  De  Fin.  ii.  \  Lips. — inmineat,  let  Mm  reach  out 
or  gras'p  after.,  like  a  miser,  as  it  were, — sag■illa,/«^?^ess,  produced 
by  much  eating ;  post- Aug. — legere,  to  choose. 

2.  cui :  dat.  of  agent,' — Beatus  ergo,  etc.  Compare  these  with 

the  beatitudes  of  the  Divine  Master,  and  although  granting  that 
they  embody  great  moral  truths,  to  which  Seneca  had.  attained, 
yet  we  cannot  but  perceive  how  far  short  they  are  of  those  cheer¬ 
ing  and  heart-searching  truths  contained  in  the  Sermon  on  the 
Mount.  —  iudicii  rectus  :  cf,  5,  3,  —  onmem  .  .  .  suaruin,  eoery 
disposition  of  his  affairs  ;  habitum :  mostly  post- Aug.  in  this  sig¬ 
nification. —  Yidet  et  in  illis,  v,  1,  illi.  —  ^\>z=^etiam.  —  in  ♦ 

illis  =  in  wluptatibus ;  sc.  esse. — Yidet  et  .  .  ,  quam  turpi  illud 
loco,  i.  e.  a  man  of  correct  judgment  sees  also  in  how  ignoble 

a  position,  etc.— Itaque  negant,  etc.,  and  so  they  deny  that  pleas¬ 
ure  can  he  separated  from  rirtue. — queuiquaui  vivere,  sc.  ita,  fol¬ 
lowed  by  ut  with  consec.  subj. 

3.  ista  tarn  diversa,  these  things  differing  so  widely.,  viz.  the  life 
of  pleasure  and  the  life  of  virtue;  tarn  is  rejected  in  some  edi¬ 
tions. — videlicet  quia:  the  answer  to  the  preceding  question, 
rendered  by  the  advocate  of  the  compatibility  of  virtue  and. 
pleasure,  to  whom  the  question  is  supposed  to  be  addressed. — 
huius,  i,  e,  virtutis. — si  .  .  .  essent  .  .  .  videremus :  note  force 
of  impf.  subj.  in  hypothetical  period;  H.  510;  B.  &  M,  1267 ;  A. 

&  G.  308.  —  indiscreta,  not  distinguishable,  inseparable.  —  sed 
Iiouesta,  V.  1.  sed  non  honesta, — exigenda.,  to  be  attained. , 

YII.— 1.  Adice  =  quod,  that.—^i,  even,  i.  e.  some  are 

unhappy,  even  with  pleasure.  —  qua  virtiis  .  .  .  indiget,  which 
(pleasure)  virtue  often  laclcs,but  never  — immo  diversa,  nay 
more,  whose  tendencies  are  in  opposite  directions. — Altum  quiddain 
est  virtus  .  .  .  voluptas  huinile:  antithetical  clauses.  —  cuius 
static,  whose  sphere. 

2.  coloratam,  icith  heat ;  cf.  De  Const.  Sap.  13, 2. — bali- 

nea :  balineum  or  balneum  (J3a\aveiov)  primarily  signifies  a  ba,th  or 
bathing-vessel ;  hence  also  applied  to  the  chamber  containing  the 
bath.  In  early  times  one  room  sufficed,  but  afterwards,  as  wealth 


288 


NOTES. 


increased,  a  number  of  rooms,  even  in  private  houses,  were  desig¬ 
nated  by  the  word  balnea.  Vid.  Diet.  Antiq.,  under  this  title. — 
sudatoria :  for  the  use  of  the  sudatm'ium.,  or  central  space  in  the 
thermal  chamber,  vid.  as  above.  Diet.  Antiq. ;  cf.  also,  Juv.  Sat. 
vi.  420. — loca  aedilem  metueutia :  the  aediles  were,  as  has  been 
remarked,  the  moral  police  of  old  Eome.  They  superintended 
buildings,  public  and  private ;  took  care  of  the  streets  and  pave¬ 
ments,  and  cleaning  and  draining  the  city ;  kept  an  oversight  of 
the  markets  and  sales  there,  and  watched  the  weights  and  meas¬ 
ures  in  use.  They  were  charged  also  with  the  duty  of  preserving 
decency  and  order  in  public  baths  and  houses  of  entertainment ; 
they  too  looked  after  prostitutes  and  houses  of  ill-fame.  Vid. 
Diet.  Antiq.  —  medicamentis  cosmetics,  paints.  —  pollinctam, 
icashed,  as  corpses  are  washed  for  funerals ;  v.  1.  pollutam. 

3,  nescit  exire,  i.  e.  it  cannot  perish. — optima,  being  itself  the 
best,  qualifies  the  subject  of  mutamt,  i.  e.  ilia  =:  recta  mens,  above ; 
observe  its  position  as  the  emphatic  word. — non  multum  loci 
liabet,  it  does  not  occupy  much  room.  The  idea  is  that  pleasure  is 
short-lived  and  transitory  in  its  operations  and  experiences,  and 
hence,  in  comparison  with  virtue,  which  has  the  contrary  quali¬ 
ties,  its  operations  are  contracted  within  narrow  limits.— in  ipso 
.  .  .  periturum,  haring  a  tendency  to  perish  in  its  very  use. — et 
dum  .  .  .  flnem,  and  eren  at  its  beginning  is  near  its  end. 

VIII.— 1.  Quid,  quod  —  quid  dicam  de  eo,  quod;  nay,  even,  or 
moreover  ;  cf.  Be  Brev.  Vit.17, 1,  n.  ;  also,  H.  454,  2';  M.  479  d,  obs. 
1 ;  Z.  769. — comes,  follower. — 2.  Hoc  =  secundum  naturam  vivere. 
— si  ,  .  .  conservahimus  .  .  .  subierimus  .  .  .  possederint  ... 
fuerint :  the  several  conditions  of  the  protasis ;  the  apodosis  to 
be  supplied,  secundum  naturam  vivemus.  The  sentiment  is  that 
he  can  live  according  to  nature  who  employs  the  gifts  (dotes)  of 
the  body  as  nature  demands;  who  does  not  subject  himself  to 
the  slavish  infiuences  of  tlie  goods  of  this  life,  but  uses  them  and 
makes  them  subserve  proper  ends ;  Avho  does  not  allow  covetous¬ 
ness  or  desire  for  another’s  goods  (aliena)  to  possess  him;  and 
who  does  not  glut  himself  with  superfluities  {adventicia),  but  uses 
them  as  aids  (auxilia)  when  necessity  demands. — in  utrumque, 
against  or  /(W’  eithet'  event  ■=.  mori  aut  vivere.  —  artifex  vitae  :  in 


dp:  vita  BEATA.  YIII.  2-IX.  ]. 


289 


the  sense  of  the  old  proverb,  “  Every  man  is  the  artificer  of  his 
own  fortune.” — Fiducia  eius  —Jiducia  su%  self-confidence. — illi : 
dat.  placita  ;  H.  391 ;  B.  &  M.  860. — litura,  alteration  or  cor¬ 
rection.  The  idea  is,  let  him  not  determine  any  thing  that  will 
give  occasion  for  repentance. 

3.  Intellegitur,  it  is  plain. — in  iis  quae  .  .  .  magniflcum,  i.  e. 
in  entertainments,  generous. — ratio  sensibus  insita :  the  idea 
appears  to  be,  not  that  the  reason  inheres  in  or  is  entirely  under 
the  lead  of  the  senses,  but  that  it  acts  through  them. — nude  rr 
a  quo. — in  se  revertatnr :  supply  et  to  connect  with  preceding 
clause. — mundnin  (v.  1.  mundus)  :  the  Stoic  mundus  is  simply  the 
matter  or  substance  of  their  deus.  They  “  teach  that  whatever 
is  real  is  material.  Matter  and  force  are  the  two  ultimate  prin¬ 
ciples.  .  .  .  The  working  force  in  the  universe  is  god.  ...  At 
the  end  of  a  certain  cosmical  period  all  things  are  reabsorbed 
into  the  deity,  the  whole  universe  being  resolved  into  fire  in  a 
general  conflagration.  The  evolution  of  the  world  then  begins 
anew,  and  so  on  without  end”  (Ueberweg’s  “Hist,  of  Philoso¬ 
phy,”  i.  194). — dens :  “  there  are  two  elements  in  nature ;  the  first 
is  v\r]  TTjowrj/,  oi*  primordial  matter,  the  impassive  element  from 
which  things  are  formed ;  the  second  is  the  active  element, 
which  forms  things  out  of  matter — -reason,  destiny  (etfiapixsvr]), 
god.  The  divine  reason  operating  on  matter  bestows  upon  it 
the  laws  which  govern  it,  laws  which  the  Stoics  called  X6yoi 
aTrepfiariKoi,  or  productive  causes.  God  is  the  reason  of  the 
world”  (Lewes's  “  Hist,  of  Ancient  Philosophy,”  vol.  i.  p.  390). 
Cf.  Ueberweg,  as  above ;  also,  Zeller’s  “  Stoics,”  etc.,  p.  192. 

4.  persuasione,  conviction.,  usual  post- Aug.  meaning.— Quae  .  .  . 
tetigit,  i.  e.  when  all  the  parts  of  the  mind  under  the  guidance 
of  reason  work  harmoniously,  each  performing  its  own  proper 
functions,  then  has  the  mind  attained  the  highest  good,  i.  e. 
peace  of  mind. — lit  ita  dicam,  so  to  speak. — 5.  arietet,  it  stumbles; 
frequent  in  Seneca ;  cf.  Be  Prov.  1,  3,  n.,  arietet.,  in  pram  ;  labet,  in 
lubrico ;  Lips. — pngiiam,  a  conflict,  i.  e.  a  want  of  harmony  in  the 
mind. — dissident  vitia,  vices  are  always  at  variance  with  each  other. 

IX,  — 1.  herbulae,  i.  e.  the  flower.  —  2.  placet:  denotes  the 
cause  ;  deleetat,  the  effect.  —  Suinmum  bonuin  in  ipso  iudicio : 


290 


NOTES. 


in  other  words,  the  highest  good  is  dependent  on  the  exercise 
of  human  reason — a  sentiment  not  in  accord  with  revelation  or 
experience. — liahitu  optimae  mentis.  Zeno  (quoted  by  Cicero) 
used  to  say  that  not  only  the  practice  of  virtue,  but  the  posses¬ 
sion  of  a  virtuous  mind  was  excellent  and  praiseworthy,  yet  no 
.  one  ever  possessed  virtue  who  did  not  practise  it. — qnae  =  et  ea 
—  mens;  B.  &  M.  701. — Nihil  enim  extra  totum  est,  i.  e.  a  vir¬ 
tuous  mmd  has  all  good  within  itself — 3.  ipsa  pretium  sui; 
virtue  is  its  own  reward. — snbtilitas :  Lips,  conjectures  svhlimi- 
tas. — laxior,  disordered. 

X.— 1.  Dissimulas,  you  profess  ignorance  of. — iucunde  vivere, 
nisi  .  .  .  vivit :  the  sentiment  of  Epicurus,  in  his  letter  to  Menoe- 
ceus  (given  in  Diog.  Laert.  x.  132),  “  One  cannot  live  pleasantly 
who  does  not  also  live  discreetly  and  honestly  ;”  and  he  then 
adds,  “  Nor  rightly  unless  pleasantly,  for  kindred  virtues  belong 
to  a  pleasant  life,  and  cannot  be  separated  from  it.”  —  qnodzz: 
honeste  virere. — inqnit,  v.  1.  vitani,  qnam,  etc.,  i.  e.  true 

pleasure  is  inseparably  connected  with  a  life  of  virtue. — Atqui: 
admits  that  which  precedes,  but  opposes  something  else  to  it ; 
Z.  349.— Toluptatihus  vestris :  sensual  pleasures  merely,  as  op¬ 
posed  to  pleasures  of  the  mind. — stultissimos  quosque :  cf.  M. 
485,  on  force  of  quisque  with  superlat. 

2.  fluentis  —fluentes. — segnis  animi  indormientis  sihi,  i.  e.  a 
mind  that  is  so  absorbed  in  itself  as  to  be  negligent  of  all  duties 
external  to  itself. — 3.  aurem  i>ervellit :  proverb,  to  pull  by  the 
ears,  i.  e.  admonishes  or  incites  to  serious  reflection. — temperan- 
tia  autem  .  .  .  minuat,  sainmi  ...  est ;  adversative  and  anti¬ 
thetical,  embodying  the  Epicurean  idea  of  moderation  in  pleas¬ 
ures,  as  opposed  to  temperantia  laeta  est.,  the  restraint  of  which  is 
obnoxious  to  the  Epicureans,  who  placed  all  good  in  pleasure. — 
Tn,  i.  e.  the  follower  of  Epicurus  whose  views  he  is  controvert¬ 
ing. —  ego  utor.  St.  Augustine  says,  “We  enjoy  God,  but  use 
everything  else.”  Florus  also  (bk.  ii.)  remarks  of  Hannibal,  after 
the  battle  of  Cannae,  that  “  althougli  he  could  have  used  his 
victory,  he  preferred  to  enjoy  it;  and,  leaving  Rome  behind, 
passed  into  Campania  and  Tarentum,” — de  illo  loquor,  i.  e.  I 
do  not  assert  this  of  myself,  who  have  not  yet  arrived  to  that 


DE  VITA  BEATA.  X.  3-XI.  3, 


291 


excellence,  but  of  that  ideal  wise  man,  who  has  reaehed  the 
highest  good. 

XI. — 1.  nedum  voluptas,  i.  e.  much  less  would  I  call  him 
happy  who  is  a  slave  to  voluptuousness;  M.  461,  obs.  3. — nmndi 
fragores  =  earthquakes,  thunder-storms,  etc.  —  adversario,  i.  e. 
mluptas. — suasura  sit :  fut.  part,  denotes  purpose  and  tendency, 
likely  to  persuade;  H.  549,  3 ;  B.  &  M.  1355. — cui :  dative  of  pos¬ 
session. 

2.  Virtus  ailtem :  for  similar  line  of  argument  against  a  dogma 
of  Aristotle,  cf.  Be  Ira,  i.  9,  2. — cum  ...  sit:  causal  subj.;  H. 
517;  B.  &  M.  1250.— pareutis  .  .  .  imperaiitis  :  gen.  of  duty  or 
custom;  M.  282. — a  tergo  .  .  .  imperat?  do  you  place  the  leader 
l)ehind  f — praegustare :  to  perform,  as  it  were,  the  office  of  a  prae- 
gustator  to  pleasure,  as  to  a  mistress.  The  passage  is  similar  tb 
one  in  Cicero  {Be  Fin.  ii.  21,  69),  where  Cleanthes  is  represented 
as  drawing  the  picture  of  the  goddess  Voluptas,  arrayed  in  regal 
attire  and  sitting  on  a  throne.  The  Virtues  stand  near  as  attend¬ 
ants,  both  to  minister  to  her  wishes  and  aid  her  with  counsel; 
that  she  may  do  nothing  imprudent,  which  might  result  in  pain, 
— apiid  quos=:a  quibus.—^\  loco  cessit,  if  she  has  yielded  her 
proper  place,  i.  e.  t\\Q  first  and  highest. — de  quo  agitur,  concerning 
the  matter  in  question. — fatearis  :  subj.  dependent  uj)on  necesse  est, 
which  also  may  take  accus.  with  infin.,  ut  omitted ;  H.  502 ;  B. 
&  M.  1222. 

3.  Nomentauum:  a  noted  spendthi-ift  and  epicure.  Horace 
frequently  refers  to  him  as  an  example  of  extreme  dissoluteness. 
Cf.  Sat.  i.  1. 102,  8. 11 ;  ii.  1.  22,  3. 175,  etc. — Apicium  :  M.  Gabius 
Apicius,  the  most  renowned  of  a  trio  of  that  name,  who  gained 
celebrity  by  their  gluttony,  flourished  under  Tiberius.  After 
finding  that  he  had  spent  some  $3,000,000  in  riotous  indulgence, 
and  had  only  about  $300,000  left,  he  put  an  end  to  his  career  by 
poison,  as  it  would  be  impossible  for  him,  he  thought,  to  live  on 
such  a  pittance.  Schools  in  the  culinary  art  were  named  from 
liim.  Cf.  Consol,  ad  Heir.  10,  2 ;  Epist.  94, 43 ;  120,  20 ;  also,  Class. 
Diet.— conquirentis,  recognoscentis  =  conquirentes,  recognoscentes  ; 
cf.  Z.  68,  note.— omnium  gentium  animalia :  birds  and  fish  were 
sought  from  all  parts  of  the  world ;  cf.  Consol,  ad  Heir.  9,  9.— 


292 


NOTES. 


c  suggestu  rosae,/r(?m  the  hed  of  roses;  a  reference,  probably,  to 
tlie  richness  of  the  couches  on  which  they  reclined  at  dinner,  or 
perhaps  to  the  wearing  of  chaplets  or  garlands  of  roses  at  meals, 
Roses  were  distributed  at  the  mensa  secunda^  and  were  sujDposed 
to  exercise  beneficial  influence.  The  suggest, us  is  supiDosed  to  be 
the  couch  in  the  semicircular  shape  called  sigma,,  from  its  resem¬ 
blance  to  that  letter,  which  replaced  the  more  ancient  triclinium,, 
after  round  tables  came  into  general  use,  Cf.  Becker’s  “Gallus,” 
p.  261 ;  Guhl  &  Koner’s  “  The  Life  of  the  Greeks  and  Romans,” 
l^p.  444,  445.— spectantis  =  spectantes,  —  aures  .  .  .  oculos  :  the 
wealthy  Romans  enliyened  their  dinners  with  music,  histrionic 
performances,  delicious  odors,  etc. — fomentis :  according  to  Lips., 
reference  is  here  intended  to  the  rubbing  by  slaves  of  their  mas¬ 
ters’  limbs  at  bathing  and  other  times.  Bouillet  makes  the  word 
equivalent  to  pulvillis,,  small  cesseiit,  i.  e.  a  mluptate. — 

parentatur:  impers.  governs  dat.,  appropriately  used,  as  if  they 
were  feasting  at  their  own  funerals;  cf.  Epist,  122,  3 ;  12,  8.  The 
latter  furnishes  a  striking  illustration  of  the  reckless  indecency 
of  a  noted  debauchee,  Pacuvius. — nee  tainen  .  .  .  gaudent,  and 
yet  it  will  not  go  pleasantly  with  them  (i.  e.  they  will  not  be  happy), 
because  they  talce  no  pleasure  in  goodness, 

XII,— 1.  inquit,  i.  e.  the  advocate  of  pleasure,  the  epicure. — 
quod  =  et.  id:  accus.  subject  of  infin. — inaeqiiales  =  inconstantes : 
at  one  time  elated  with  joy,  at  anotlier  depressed  with  sadness. 
— sub  ictu  poeniteutiae :  literally,  under  the  blow  of  penitence,,  i.  e. 
in  the  power  of  penitence,  since  sorrow  and  shame  are  apt  to 
follow  close  upon  the  heels  of  folly.— liilarem  iusaniam  insa* 
nire,  they  are  mad  with  a  pvial  madness;  insaniam,  cognate 
accus. ;  H.  371,  i.  2, 1 ;  B.  &  M.  713 ;  cf  Hor.  Sat.  ii.  3,  302. 

2.  reniissae,,w27<i  or  cheerful. — vix  notabiles,  scarcely  observ¬ 
able. — ut  quae  .  .  .  veniant,  since  tliey  come  unsought;  causal 
sentence — ut  merely  strengthens  the  causal  relative  sentence; 
H.  517;  B.  &  M.  1253. — accersitae  ==  qiiamvis  .  .  . 

accesscrint:  concessive  subj.;  quamvis  however 

much  you  will,,  and  the  subj.  by  itself  expresses  the  concession. — 
per  quod  vitiuin,  i.  a.  per  quam  societatem  (viz.  virtuti  voluptatem 
implicare). — pessimis  quibusque  adulantur,  they  pay  court  to  all 


DE  VITA  BEATA.  XII.  2-XIII.  2.  293 

the  onost  corrupt ;  adulare  is  properly  used  of  dogs,  and  signifies 
primarily  to  creep  or  sneak  up  to  a  person,  and  in  th^t  sense  al¬ 
ways  takes  accus.  In  its  figurative  sense  of  servile  flattery  it  is 
also  used  with  accus.,  but  more  commonly  with  dat. ;  Z.  389, 
note  3;  quisque:  cf.  10, 1,  n.  , 

3.  lUe,  that  one^  by  way  of  example,  one  of  the  class  cliafacter- 
ized  by  pessim'us. — ructabundus :  Lips,  prefers  this  to  reptdbundus 
of  Pincian  and  others,  on  the  ground  that  it  is  more  consonant 
with  ebrius. — vitiis  .  .  .  inscribit:  led  on  by  the  example  of 
those  afiirming  the  compatibility  and  identity  of  pleasure  and 
virtue,  the  vitest  openly  flaunt  their  excesses,  and  take  refuge 
under  the  banner  of  Epicurus,  whose  wisdom  they  claim  to  pos¬ 
sess. — profltetur:  he  boasts  of  his  vices  as  worthy  of  praise. 
The  vicious  may  (and  do)  say.  We  follow  a  life  of  pleasure. 
Why  liot?  Epicurus  says  it  is  the  highest  good. 

4.  ilia :  used  with  reference  to  what  is  well  known.  The  idea 
is,  he  who  wishes  for  an  excuse  for  his  vices  does  not  consider 
how  moderate  was  the  pleasure  advocated  by  Epicurus,  who  is 
rarely  credited  with  his  real  views. — peccandi  verecuudiam :  in 
apposition  with  bonum. — ideoque,  etc. :  no  chance  for  youth  to 
recover  from  vicious  follies  when  once  deceived  by  the  fallacies 
of  Epicureanism, 

XIII.— 1.  quod  corrumpit  adparet :  the  very  name  and  praise 
of  pleasure  are  corrupting,  because  they  afford  an  occasion  and  a 
means  to  the  vicious  of  cloaking  their  vices,  and  of  perverting 
that  which  has  some  good  in  it. — (iiivitis  hoc  .  .  .  dicam), 
say  this.,  though  the  men  of  our  (the  Stoic)  school  dissent;  popularis: 
used  of  one  belonging  to  a  party,  sect,  faction,  etc.  "Sallust  {Catil. 
24)  uses  it  of  the  accomplices  of  Catiline. — saiicta  Epicurum :  cf. 
Epist.  33, 1-3. — tristia,  sacere,  exacting. — virtuti  legem,  i.  e.  ad 
naturam  mrere  ;  cf.  3,  3,  n.  ;  also,  Eqnst.  4,  8. 

2.  parere  naturae :  cf  Eqnst.  4,  just  quoted,  for  what  is  meant 
by  obedience  to  nature,  viz.  to  be  free  from  hunger,  thirst,  cold, 
etc. — Quid  ergo :  what,  then,  is  the  objection  against  praise  of 
pleasure  ? — bouum  .  .  .  auctorein,  i.  e.  he  seeks  some  honorable, 
philosophical  authority  for  a  ])ad  thing. — illo :  adv.  thither,  viz, 
bonum  auctorem. — blaudo  nomine  inductus ;  under  cover  of  a  fair 

■  -  N2 


294 


NOTES. 


name. — audit  =  discit  a  pMlosophis. — inde,/r<??7i  that  time. — aper- 
to  capite :  ablat,  abs.  =  in  the  sight  of  all  men  ;  v.  1.  operto. — male 
audit,  it  has  a  load  reputation.,  i.  e.  it  hears  itself  disparagingly 
mentioned. 

3.  interius  admissus :  one  who  has  been  admitted  to  an  inti¬ 
mate  knowledge  of  the  teachings  of  the  Epicurean  sect. — Frons 
eius  ipsa,  etc.  Its  very 'approaches  give  occasion  for  conjectures 
of  something  vicious  within,  or  for  gross  misrepresentation.  Epi¬ 
curus  had  his  Garden,  as  Plato  his  Academy,  Zeno  his  Stoa  or 
Porch,  and  Aristotle  his  Lyceum.  At  the  entrance  of  the  Gar¬ 
den  was  placed  this  inscription  :  “  The  hospitable  keeper  of  this 
mansion,  where  you  will  find  pleasure  the  highest  good,  will  present 
you  liberally  with  barley  cakes  and  water  fresh  from  the  S2)ring. 
The  gardens  will  not  provoke  your  appetite  by  artificial  dainties, 
but  satisfy  it  with  natural  suj^plies.  Will  you  not  be  well  enter¬ 
tained  ?”  Cf.  Lewes,  Ueberw^eg,  and  Zeller,  already  referred  to. — 
stolam,  V.  1.  stola:  a  w^oman’s  loose,  flowing  robe ;  also,  the  dress 
of  a  voluptuary;  cf.  Hor.  8at.\.  2,  99.  Government  of?  H.  377; 
B.  &  M.  733?— tibi :  ethical  dat. ;  cf.  H.  389 ;  B.  &  M.  838. — veri- 
tas,  V.  1.  mrilitas. — patieiitiae ;  endurance  of  unnatural  lust  or 
passion ;  cf  Be  Pror.  3, 11 ;  Cic.  in  Verr.  ii.  5, 13. — tympanum  ;  a 
mark  of  lasciviousness,  since  it  waas  used  by  the  Corybantes  in 
their  orgies  in  the  worshiy^  of  Cybele. — cum  =  simul  ac,  as  soon  as. 

4.  generosae  indolis  spem,  of  noble  qualities. — perventu- 

rus :  fut.  part. ;  cf  11, 1,  n. — ex  eis  =  eorum. — Agedum,  well  then; 
used,  in  transitions  in  discourse. — in  ipsa  est  modus.  The  idea 
that  there  can  be  no  excess  in  virtue,  and  that  in  one  all  are 
comprehended,  seems  almost  general  among  the  ancient  philoso¬ 
phers.  The  idea  here  is  that  a  virtue  can  be  neither  more  nor 
less  a  virtue;  there  is  no  golden  mean.  Lips,  (in  his  “Manuduc- 
tio,”  hi.  Diss.  4)  quotes  Menedemus  and  Ariston  (3d  century  b.c,) 
as  saying,  “  There  is  but  one  virtue,  though  set  ofi*  under  various 
titles.”  See  also  Cic.  Be  Fin.  v.  23  (67) ;  cf  “  Epistles  of  L,  A. 
Seneca,  with  large  Annotations,”  by  Thomas  Morell,  D.D.,  vol.  i. 
p.  259,  on  Epist.  67. — quod  magiiitudine  laborat  sua :  cf  these 
words  of  Livy  in  the  Preface  to  his  History. 

XIV.— 1.  RationabUem;  post-Aug. — porro:  marks  the  prog- 


DE  VITA  BEATA.  XIV.  l.-XV.  2. 


295 


ress  of  ideas  developed  in  the  last  chapter,  especially  the  thought 
above,  agedum^  etc. — sortitis  naturam,  to  those  who  have  received 
a  reasonable  nature.  —  [si  hoc  placet  .  .  .  coniitatu] ;  Fickert 
brackets  this  sentence  as  an  interpolation  on  the  part  of  some 
one  desirous  of  explaining  the  words,  si  'placet  ista  iunctura. — 
excelsissiaiam,  v.  1.  excellentissimam.  —  voluptati  .  .  .  ancillam, 
etc.:  cf.  12,  2,  n.  on  praegustare.—csL\A^Mi\^  =  concipientis:  pred. 
gen. — temperatores  =  'moderatores. — nihil  coget,  sc.  sed. 

2.  ei  =  w,  V.  1.  hi;  this  orthography  of  the  plur.  is  very  rare ;  cf. 
M.  83,  obs.  1. — principia  =  precedence,  the  first  place,  a  metaphor 
drawn  from  military  life ;  cf.  Pliny,  Nat.  Hist.  ix.  35,  54. — mari : 
why  ablat.  without  preposition  ?  H.  425,  ii.  2 ;  B.  &  M.  937,  2. — 
Syrtico :  the  Syrtes,  Greater  and  Lesser,  on  the  eastern  half  of 
the  northern  coast  of  Africa;  cf.  Class.  Diet.  —  3.  caecae,  v.  1. 
caeco. — habentes  =  ii  qui  habent. — quo  .  .  .  eo :  ablatives  of  ex¬ 
cess  and  deficiency  ;  H.  423 ;  B.  &  M.  929,  30. 

4.  Permanere  libet  .  .  .  imagine  =  I  am  disposed  to  continue 
still  further  the  comparison  which  I  have  just  now  employed. — 
bestiarum  .  .  .  feras :  hestia.,  an  animal  without  reason,  in  con¬ 
tradistinction  to  man ;  fera.,  a  wild  animal  living  on  land,  in 
contradistinction  to  domestic  animals ;  cf.  Ramshorn’s  Latin 
Synonyms,  p.  96.  —  laqueo  captare,  etc.:  quoted  from  Virgil, 
Qeorg.  i,  139,  40. — latos,  v.  1.  magnos. — olliciis :  ablat.  of  separa^ 
tion ;  cf.  M.  262.— pro  ventre  dependit,  sc.  se,  he  gives  himself 
over  for  the  sake  of  his  lelly,  as  Apicius,  Nomentanus,  etc.,  11,  3. 

XV. — 1.  confundi  =  .'  in  a  good  sense. — summuin  bo- 

nvim.  —  virtus. — Quia  pars,  etc.,  i.  e.  no  part  of  the  honorable  can 
be  dishonorable;  and  the  argument  is,  if  pleasure  as  an  end  is 
dishonorable,  it  hence  cannot  be  part  of  or  one  with  virtue,  the 
chief  good.  The  expression  is  very  concise,  a  good  instance  of. 
multum  in  parvo. — gaudium :  according  to  the  Stoics,  gaudium 
is  suited  to  the  wise  man  alone,  voluptas  never.  The  former  in¬ 
dicates  the  emotion  which  is  caused  by  delight  at  some  real  or 
imagined  good ;  the  latter  the  pleasurable  sensation  created  by 
a  high  degree  of  pleasure  through  the  senses— voluptuousness. 
Cf.  Ramshorn’s  Latin  Synonyms. 

2.  cousequeiitia  .  .  .  non  consuminantia,  i.  e.  they  do  not  con- 


296 


NOTES. 


stitutc  a  part  of  the  chief  good. — ita  demum,  etc. :  the  invinci¬ 
bility  of  virtue  is  conditioned  only  by  the  law  that  nothing  is 
preferred  before  or  e'stiniated  higher  than  herself.  —  sequitur 
vita  anxia:  the  man  who  takes  pleasure  as  his  guiding  prin¬ 
ciple  becomes  a  slave  to  the  caprices  of  fortune,  and  cannot  en¬ 
dure  the  ills  of  body  and  vicissitudes  of  life  with  the  same  equa¬ 
nimity  which  he  displays  who  makes  virtue  his  aim. 

3.  benignus  interpres  :  one  who  puts  the  most  favorable  con¬ 
struction  on  the  ills  that  befall  him,  and  regards  them  as  a  dis¬ 
cipline  to  a  good  end.  .The  spirit  of  the  passage  {quomodo  Mc^ 
etc.)  reminds  one  of  the  words  of  St.  Paul  (Rom.  viii.  18),  “I 
reckon  that  the  sufferings  of  this  present  time  are  not  worthy  to 
be  compared  with  the  glory  which  shall  be  revealed  in  us.” — 
patriae  .  .  .  propiigiiator :  cf.  Hor.  Od.  iv.  9, 51. 

4.  frangendiis :  the  height  is  to  be  diminished  by  the  as¬ 
cent  ;  when  once  the  steep  is  scaled,  it  ceases  to  exist  as  a  diffi¬ 
culty  to  be  overcome.  Hence  the  peculiar  force  oijrangmdu^. — 
legem  esse^naturae,  i.  e.  he  will  know  that  the  deity  or  fate  has 
sent  upon  him  all  the  difficulties  of  times  and  occasions;  Lips. 

5.  illud  .  .  .  vetus  praeceptum,  deam  sequere :  Lips,  quotes 
Boethius  {De  Consol.  Phil.  i.  4)  as  ascribing  this  precept  to  Py¬ 
thagoras,  and  Cicero  {De  Fin.  iii.  22,  73)  as  attributing  it  to  one 
of  the  Seven  Wise  Men.  The  Stoics  even  sometimes  formulated 
this  as  the  highest  good  or  chief  end  of  man.  Lips,  also  refers 
to  Philo  Judaeus  (1st  century  a.d.)  as  saying  {De  Migrat.  Abrah. 
p.  462),  “  The  end,  according  to  Moses,  the  holy  one,  is  to  follow 
God.” 

6.  ex  transverso,  unexpectedly.,  though  sent  by  deity  or  fate. 

— (Jiiicquid  .  .  .  patieiidiim  est :.  an  allusion  to  the  doctrine  of 
fate  and  secondary  causation.  All  things  were  connected  to¬ 
gether  in  a  series  by  a  universal  nexus. — usurpetur :  a  conjectural 
reading  of  Fickert’s ;  Haase  gives  suscipiatur.  The  mss.  vary 
much  in  respect  to  this  passage;  some  have,  magno  xisu  (or  nisu) 
cripiatur  ;  Lips,  suggests,  nobis  excipiatur. — sacrameiitnin  : 

fox  jusjurandum.,  a  military  figure.  As  the  soldiers  are  compelled 
by  oath  to  follow  the  standard  and  obey  the  general,  so  are  we 
forced  to  endure  the  casualties  common  to  men  ;  hence  the  infer¬ 
ence,  let  us  endure  them  courageously  {magno  animo).  Gf.  Epist. 


DE  VITA  BEATA.  XV.  G-XVII.  1. 


297 


95,  35.  —  In  regno,  i.  e.  fortunae  an  verius  fati ;  Lips.  Lodge 
translates,  “  We  are  born  under  a  royal  domination.  It  is  liberty 
to  obey  God.”— deo  parere  :  Lips,  calls  this  a  golden  saying,  and 
quotes  Philo,  the  Jewish  writer,  “  To  obey  God  is  not  only  better 
than  liberty,  but  better  far  than  ruling.”  Bee  Parallels  or  Re¬ 
semblances  to  Scripture,  at  end  of  Introduction,  p.  43. 

XVI.  — 1.  qua  fas  est,  as  far  as  it  is  the  dvoine  will. — deuni 
effingas.  This  is  language  worthy  of  a  Christian,  when  uttered 
from  a  Christian  standpoint — that  one  should  portray  by  his  life 
the  divine  attributes  in  such  wuse  as  to  exemplify  by  imitation 
the  divine  being,  as  far  as  it  is  possible  for  man  so  to  do,  We 
might  almost  believe  that  Seneca  had  heard  of  the  apostle’s 
wmrds,  “Partakers  of  the  divine  nature”  (2  Pet.  i.  4).  Cf.  Be 
Const.  Sap.  8,  2. — pro  hac  expeditioiie  =  in  return  for  this  ener¬ 
getic  bearing. — et,  even. — cogeris :  fnt.  pass.  2d  sing.  How  does 
it  differ  from  pres.  pass.  ? — ex  senteiitia,  according  to  your  wish. 

2,  sufiiciat  .  .  .  superfluat :  why  subj.  ?  H.  485  ;  B.  &  M.  1180. 
— iinmo  superfluat :  immo  gives  an  additional  emphasis,  or  makes 
a  correction,  to  what  precedes ;  translate,  nay.,  I  should  rather  ask., 
why  is  it  {virtus  or  ilia  perfecta^  etc.)  not  more  than  sufficient,  ad 
leate  vivendum? — extrinsecus :  used  adjectively;  cf.  jDe  Tranq, 
10,  5. — opus ;  predicate ;  H.  414,  iv.  note  4 ;  B.  &  M.  673,  obs.  4. 
— qui  .  .  .  tendit  i  the  wise  man  only  has  fully  attained ;  others 
who  are  striving  are  merely  on  the  road,  but  still  are  in  the  right 
course. — luctanti:  agrees  with  ei.  —  quod,  that.  —  adligati  ,  .  . 
adstricti  .  .  .  destricti :  observe  distinction  in  these  words. 
See  Lexicon. 

XVII. — 1.  Quare  .  .  .  vivis  ?  wherefore  do  you  talk  more  strictly 
than  you  live  f  The  argumentum  ad  hominem,  here  and  following, 
is  one  which  Seneca  has  often  had  made  against  him.  A  writer 
in  the  Westminster  Review  (July,  1867)  says,  “  Seneca’s  position 
was  equivocal.  He  was  immensely  rich,  and  he  professed  to  ad¬ 
mire  poverty.  ...  In  his  frequent  eulogiums  on  poverty  we  do 
not  think  he  was  wholly  insincere,  though  we  regret  that  he  did 
not  recommend  his  theory  by  his  practice.  .  .  .  After  all  abate¬ 
ments,  we  allow'  that  Seneca  was  inconsistently  and  ungracefully 


298 


NOTES. 


rich.”  Cf.  also  Merivale’s  “  History  of  the  Romans  under  the 
Empire,”  vol.  vi.  pp.  43, 186. — verba  submittis,  why  do  you  ten¬ 
der  deceitful  expressions  f  hence,  why  do  you  flatter? 

2.  cultius  rns,  a  moi'e  ornamented  country-seat. — naturalis  usas : 
a  reference  to  the  Stoic  dogma,  which  the  objector  intimates 
Seneca  does  not  keep. — cur  .  .  .  coenas :  cf.  De  Tranq.  1,  3,  n.~ 
nitidior :  a  reference,  probably,  to  the  magnificent  citron  tables 
of  Seneca ;  cf.  De  Tranq.  1,  4,  n. — apiid  te,  at  your  house.  Seneca 
himself  was  very  temperate,  but  he  seems  to  have  conformed 
freely  to  the  convivial  customs  of  his  day  in  respect  to  entertain¬ 
ments.— vinum  aetate  tua  vetustius:  probably  the  celebrated 
wine  known  as  the  Vinum  Opimianum.  The  vintage  of  the  year 
when  L.  023imius  was  consul,  b.c.  121,  was  of  unprecedented 
quality,  owing  to  the  extraordinary  heat  of  the  autumn.  A  large 
quantity  was  stored  and  preserved  for  many  years.  Cicero,  in 
his  Brutus  (83),  some  eighty-five  years  afterwards,  mentions  its 
existence ;  and  Pliny  {Nat.  Hist.  xiv.  4,  5)  mentions,  a.d.  77,  that 
even  then  some  of  this  wine  still  remained.  It  was  so  strong 
and  so  much  like  rough  honey,  he  tells  us,  that  it  could  not  be 
drunk  unless  largely  diluted  with  water. — cur  annuum  dispo- 
iiitur?  Another  troublesome  passage.  The  readings  of  mss.  - 
vary;  Haase  gives  for  annuum;  Pincian  conjectures,  cur 

laute  domus  ;  Michaelis,  argentum ;  andXipsius  reads,  cur  autem 
dispomtur  ?  —  arbores  .;  .  .-daturae:  the  wealthy  Romans  had 
extensive  -groves  of  laurel,  cypress,  and  plane  trees. — uxor  tua, 
i.  e.  Pompeia  Paulina;  cf.  De  Brer.  Vit.  1,  1,  n. — locupletis  .  .  ^ 
auribus  gerit.  The  Roman  ladies  wore  very  costly  gems  on 
their  fingers  and  in  their  ears.  Pliny  tells  of  a  pearl  valued  at 
60,000,000  sesterces  =r  about  $2,000,000.  Seneca  also  speaks  of 
“  hanging  from  each  ear  the  worth  of  two  or  three  men’s  patri¬ 
monies  ”  {De  Benef.  vii.  Q,  4). — paedagogium  :  cf.  De  Tranq.  1,  5,  n. 
— pretiosa  veste ;  a  tunic  embroidered  with  gold. — temere  et 
ut  libet,  icithout  regard  to  order.,  and  at  each  onds  pleasure. — scin- 
dendi  obsoiiii  magister,  a  master  in  earring.  The  carver  is  called 
also  structor  and  carptor.  His  art  consisted  not  only  in  carving 
in  a  skilful  manner,  but  also  in  dancing,  and  keeping  regular 
time  in  his  movements;  cf.  Becker’s  “  Gallus,”  p.  121.  Juvenal 
makes  use  of  the  term  chironomonta  {8at.  v.  120). 


DE  VITA  BEATA.  -XVII.  3-XIX.  3. 


‘299 


3.  trails  mare :  in  Britain  and  elsewhere.—  cur  plura,  sc.  pos- 
sides ;  plura  may  include  both  servants  and  lands. — plures,  sc. 

quorum  iiotitiae  memoria  sufficiat:  Fickert  thinks  Sen¬ 
eca  may  have  written,  quorum  memoriae  sufficias. — Adiuvabo  :  the 
reply  to  the  objector’s  criticisms  begins  here. — Non  sum  sapiens ; 
though  the  Stoic  held  that  there  was  such  a  thing  as  a  wise  man^ 
yet  he  never  hoped  or  expected  to  become  one  wholly  himself. — 
4,  ohiurgare,  to  correct^  i.  e.  by  words  and  writings,  and  hence  to 
repress ;  Lips. — sauitatem  m  sapientiam  Stoicam. 

XVIII.— 1.  ego  enim,  etc.  The  author  modestly  disclaims 
any  excellence,  so  that  he  may  not  be  a  stumbling-block  to  oth¬ 
ers.  He  speaks  rather  for  those  who  have  made  some  progress 
{aliquid  acti). — Aliter  .  .  .  aliter  =  alio  .  .  .  alio,  i.  e.,  in  com¬ 
mon  phrase,  “You  say  one  thing  and  do  another.” — capita  ca- 
pitulum,  post- Aug. ;  Lips.)  :  in  apposition  with  hoc. — dicebant, 
were  accustomed  to  say. — Q\im=:simul  ac,  as  soon  as. — vivam  quo- 
modo  oportet,  /  icill  live  as  I  ought. 

2.  VOS:  accus.  object  of  necatis ;  malevolence  drinks  its  own 
poison,  and  l^ecomes  its  own  victim. — quo  minus  :  after  verbs  of 
hindering;  Z.  543. — et:  has  force  of  etsi,  even  if. — 3.  Rutilius: 
cf.  Be  Prov.  3,  5,  n. — qiiibus :  dat.  of  interest  =  in  ivhose  opinion. — 
Demetrius  Cynicus :  cf.  Be  Prov.  3, 3,  n. — Cyuicos :  cf.  Ueberweg’s 
“  Hist,  of  Philosophy,”  vol.  i.  p.  92-94 ;  Zeller’s  “  Stoics,”  etc.,  p. 
286-290. — Tides  enim  ?  ironical. 

XIX, — 1.  Diodorum,  Epicureum :  little  or  nothing  is  known 
of  this  Diodorus. — negaiit  ex  decreto,  etc.,  they  deny  that  he  act¬ 
ed  in  accordance  with  the  teaching  of .  Epicfurus. — coiiscientiae : 
governed  hy  plenus;  H.  399,  3 ;  B.  &  M.  776.— aetatis  .  .  .  actae : 
the  figure  is  that  of  a  ship  lying  at  anchor  in  a  quiet  harbor. 
He  is  represented  as  passing  a  peaceful  and  quiet  life,  ajpart  from 
the  sea  of  turmoil  and  strife  belonging  to  a  public  career. — vobis : 
dat.  of  agent. — Tixi,  etc.:  Virg.  Aen.  iv.  653.  —  2.  audeatis:  a 
nominal  question. — Negatis  quemquam  :  cf.  18, 1,  x.  aliter. 

3.  loquantur  .  .  .  conentur:  causal  subj.;  H.  518;  B.  &  M. 
1250. — omnis  =  owi/ies.— religere ;  to  release  themselves  from  tlie 
crosses  which  natural  lusts  and  desires  have  erected  for  each 


300 


NOTES. 


one.  Every  man  by  every  act  of  vice  and  by  inordinate  desire 
drives  a  nail  into  his  own  cross,  on  wliicli  he  must  pay  the  pen¬ 
alty. — ad  supplicium  .  .  .  pendent :  yet  when  brought  to  pun- 
4shment  they  hang  suspended  on  a  single  beam  ;  i.  e.  those  who 
are  in  pursuit  of  wisdom  are  not  distracted  by  as  many  desires 
as  you  are. — in  se  ipsi ;  Lips,  reads,  in  se  ipsos,  and  makes  it  refer 
to  the  subject  of  pendent^  i.  e.  those  in  the  pursuit  of  wisdom. — 
ant  maledici,  etc.,  i.  e.  the  slanderers  are  charmed  over  the  dis¬ 
grace  of  another. 

XX.  —  1.  non  est  quod:  cf.  De  Tranq.  2,  2,  n.  —  Studiornin 
salutarium,  etc. :  a  motto  well  worth  remembering. — citra  ef- 
fectum :  cf.  Apuleius  (quoted  by  Lqjsius),  omnibus  bonis  in  rdbiis 
conatus  laude^  effectus  in  casu  est. — conantis  =  conantes. — 2.  ador- 
natis,  sc.  Us :  dat.  of  agent. — Qui,  such  an  one. — andiain  quo  vi- 
debo:  by  hyperbaton  for  videbo  quo  audiam  ;  this  figure  is  quite 
frequent  in  Seneca.  The  sentiment  is  that  the  approach  of  my 
own  death  will  not  move  me  more  than  the  news  of  another’s 
death. — Ego  .  .  .  sentiam,  i.  e.  I  will  look  with  indifference 
upon  fortune,  whether  she  comes  or  goes. — hoc  nomine,  on  this 
account. 

3.  Quo  eniin:  the  idea  is,  for  what  better  purpose  could  nat¬ 
ure  use  me  than  for  others  ? — omnis  :=  omnes. — quod  dignus  ac- 
Cipiet,  which  a  worthy  man  shall  receive  at  my  hands. — nihil  opini- 
onis  causa :  cf.  De  Ira.,  iii.  41,  conscientiae  satisjiat;  nihil  in  famam 
laboremus.—\^oip}i\o  .  .  .  credain  .  .  .  faciam,  I  will  believe  that 
whatever  I  d'oi,when  I  dm  the  only  witness.,  is  done  in  the  sight  of  the 
whole  world.  Similar  noteworthy  sentiments  occur  in  other  parts 
of  Seneca’s  writings. — 4.  erit:  what  is  the  subject? — hos  supra, 
etc. :  cf.  De  Prov.  6,  3, — natura,  i.  e.  dii. — ratio  dimittet,  in  ref¬ 
erence  to  the  Stoic  teaching  on  suicide ;  cf.  De  Prov.  6,  6,  n. 

XXI. — 1.  tenuerit,  \.o,.iter,cursum. — niagnis  tamen  excidit 
ansis :  cf.  Ovid,  Metam.  ii.  328. — nihil  novi  facitis,  you  do  nothing 
new,  that  is,  because  you  dare  nothing  noble  and  great.  The 
thought  is  antithetical  to  the  first :  novi,  partit.  gen. — hiscite,  etc. 
Those  who  abuse  the  virtuous  are  addressed  under  the  figure  of 
a  dog. — 2.  Quai’C  ille  philosophiae,  etc. :  probably  an  allusion 


DE  VITA  BEATA.  XXI.  2-XXII.  2.  301 

to  some  attack  on  Seneca  himself,  who  was  very  wealthy;  cf. 

17. 1,  N. 

3.  noil,  sc.  ait  ista  debere  contemni. — non  ahig*!!  ilia :  Lij)sius 
quotes  the  elder  Seneca  as  saying,  “  Who  will  reject  the  gifts  of 
inflowing  fortune?”  —  abigit  .  .  prosequitur,  v.  1.  .  .  . 

prosequetur. — ubi  tutius  fortuna  deponet  .  .  .  est  ?  where  indeed 
diall  fortune  more  safely  deposit  her  treasures  than  in  a  place  whence 
she  will  recover  them  without  complaint  of  the  restorer? — M.  Cato, 
i.  e.  Cato  Uticensis,  or  the  Younger ;  vid.  Class.  Diet. — Curium ; 
M.  Curius  Dentatus,  the  conqueror  of  Pyrrhus  and  the  Samnites ; 
cf.  De  Tranq.  3, 16,  n. — Coruncanium  :  Tiberius  Coruncanius,  con¬ 
sul  B.c.  280,  a  friend  of  Dentatus,  was  the  first  plebeian  who  be¬ 
came  pontifex  maximus.  He  was  eminent  as  a  statesman,  and 
possessed  a  profound  knowledge  of  pontifical  and  civil  law,  Cf. 
Class.  Diet.  —  censorium  crimen:  a  crime  to  be  noted  by  the 
censor.  In  b.c.  275  Corn.  Rufinus,  proconsul  and  ex-dictator, 
was  expelled  from  the  Senate  by  the  censors,  C.  Fabrieius  and 
Q.  Aemil.  Papus,  because  he  possessed  ten  pounds  of  silver  plate. 
Cf.  Livy,  Epit.  xiv. — lamellae :  dat.  of  possession ;  cf.  De  Brev.Vit. 

12.1.  — quadragies  —  quadragies  centena  millia  sester- 

tiorum^  4,000,000  sesterces,  about  |150,000 ;  cf.  Z.  873.  Lips,  con¬ 
jectures,  quadringenties  sestertium  ^  about  $1,600,000. — Crassus : 
M.  Crassus,  noted  for  his  wealth,  was  said  to  have  possessed  es¬ 
tates  outside  of  Rome  valued  at  200,000,000  sesterces. — Censo- 
rius  Cato :  the  great-grandfather  of  Cato  of  Utica. — Non  aniat 
divitias  .  .  .  vult :  on  the  whole,  the  best  excuse  which  Seneca 
could  offer  for  being  very  rich,  and  using  his  riches  in  personal 
and  social  enjoyment,  while  preaching  the  opposite ;  cf.  17, 1,  n.  ; 
also.  Introduction,  pp.  21,  22. 

• 

XXII.— 1.  maior  materia  sapient!  viro,  etc. :  the  wise  man 
alone  knows  how  to  use  riches  aright;  the  foolish  abuse  them. — 
sit:  consecutive  subj.  with  after  .  .  .  dubii ;  H. 496,  3-; 
B.  &  M.  1232.— cum  .  .  .  sit  .  .  .  liabeat:  causal  subj.  What 
is  subject  of  — campum  ...  patentem,  i.  e.  an  unobstructed 
field  of  action.  —  staturae :  descriptive  gen.,  limits  subject  of 
fuerit. 

2.  hoc,  sc.  malit ;  Lips,  reads  haec. — Quaedam :  such,  accord- 


302 


NOTES. 


ing  to  the  maxims  of  Zeno,  were  riches,  health,  physical  strength, 
etc. — in  summani  rei,  in  respect  to  the  chief  matte)'. — adiciiiiit  rr: 
adjiciunt. — ex  yirtute  iiascentem  :  the  otfspring  of  virtue  were 
joy  and  serenity  of  mind,  as  the  Stoics  held. — ferens  ventus :  cf. 
Virg.  Aen.  iv.  430,  expectet  facilemque  fugam,  rentosque  ferentes. — 
hruiiia :  properly,  the  winter  solstice,  used  for  the  period  near 
tlie  solstice,  almost  always  stormy. — apriciis,  exposed  to  the  sun. 

8.  alia  aliis :  good,  bad,  and  indifferent  comj^rised  the  Stoic 
category.  Virtue  only  was  good,  vice  only  bad ;  all  other  things 
were  indifferentia — utility  alone  determined  their  relative  valua- 
-  tion.  Of  these,  some  were  to,  preferable  things;  others, 

ahducta.  The  producta  were  of  three  kinds — those  of  the  mind., 
of  the  body,  and  externa.  Of  the  mind  were  ingenium,  ars,  scien- 
tia ;  of  the  body  were  sanitas.  xires ;  externa  were  opes,  gloria, 
ndbilitas.  Of  these  some  are  preferable  to  others — as  those  of  the 
mind  to  those  of  the  body  ;  those  of  the  body  to  those  external ; 
Lips. — 4,  cum  .  .  .  liaheaut:  cf.  §  1,  hdbeat. — queni,  as ;  object 
of  habeant  understood. — divitiae,  etc. :  riches  belong  to  me,  you 
belong  to  riches ;  in  other  words,  riches  are  my  slaves,  you  arc  a 
slave  to  your  riches. 

XXm. — 1.  pecuniar  ablat.  of  separation;  interdicereh  some¬ 
times  used  with  dat.  of  person  and  ablat.  of  thing ;  A.  &  S.  251, 
‘R.  2. — paupertate  :  ablat.  of  punishment.  Verbs  of  condemning, 
instead  of  gen.  of  the  crime,  sometimes  take  ablat.  of  the  punish¬ 
ment  ;  H.  410,  III.  5 ;  B.  &  M.  795,  obs.  3. — HaheMt  philosoplms, 
etc. :  a  plea  in  his  own  defence. — nec  alieno  .  .  .  partas,  i.  e.  not 
acquired  as  .the  spoil  or  confiscated  property  of  a  proscribed  and 
slain  enemy. — sine  sordidis  quaestibus,  i.  e.  gained  without  des- 
picafcle  means.  —  In  quantum  vis,  as  much  as  you  please. — cum 
.  .  .  sint:  concessive  subj.,  although,  etc.  —  2.  per  lionesta,  hy 
honest  means,  Iwnestly. — Quod  .  .  .  tollat,  let  each  one  take  what 
he  has  recognized  as  his  own. — 0  magnum :  M.  530. — optime :  adv. 
■ — iniciat  =  injiciat. 

3.  denariiiin:  a  silver  coin  =  about  18  cents.  —  loco:  besides 
i\iQ  d.iit-yinvidere  frequently  has  the  ablat.  with  or  without  in; 
ii^,inxidere  igne  rogi  miseris;  Lucan’s  Pharsalia,\ii.  798. — hospi- 
teutur  :  post-Aug.,  let  them  enjoy  his  hospitality. — iufruiiiti,  silly, 


DE  VITA  BEATA.  '  XXIII.  3-XXIV.  4. 


303 


or  senseless. — ntrumne,  whether  ;  never  used  in  single  questions. — 
4.  cscendere:  ctDe  Prm.  1,  6,  n.;  De  Tranq.  15,  17.— IiabeMt, 

i.  e.  he  will  esteem  riches,  yet  as  fleeting  and  transitory. — quid 
expeditis  sinum?  for  the  purpose  of  receiving  a  gift,  forsooth. — 
rationem  esse  reddendam,  that  an  account  must  J)e  rendered  for 
stewardship. — nain  inter  turpes  iacturas,  etc.,  i.  e.  a  gift  unwor¬ 
thily  bestowed  is  thrown  away. — exeant,  i.  e.  consilio. — excidat, 

1.  e.  casu  aut  leritate. 

XXIV. — 1.  Hunc  promereor,  I  win  the  favor  of  this  one  by  my 
gifts ;  usually  construed  with  de  and  ablat. — ilium  instruo,  i.  e. 
I  furnish  him  with  ampler  and  more  liberal  means. — deducat, 
etc. :  one  who  deserves  not  to  be  taken  away  from  higher  pur¬ 
suits,  by  the  necessity  of  daily  labor,  on  account  of  poverty ;  Lijjs. 
reads  diducat.,  subj.  of  result  after  dignus;  H.  501,  iit.  ;  B.  &  M. 
1226. — inculcabo,  i,  e.  upon  the  modest  and  unexacting. — nomi- 
na  facio :  nomen  facere  means,  to  write  items  of  debts  in  an  account- 
booTc;  hence,  \\GveyI  never  put  money  at  interest  so  well  as  when,  etc. 

2.  recepturus:  expresses  purpose,  to  receive  again. — perditu- 

rns :  to  squander  as  prodigals,  really  the  antithesis  of  the  thought 
in  the  preceding  question. — Eo  loco  =  tali  loco.,  a  praiseworthy 
sentiment. — domus :  the  household  and  slaves. — togatos  :  Roman 
citizens,  as  opposed  to  foreigners,  or  Roman  soldiers. — liberi  .  .  . 
libertiui :  cf.  Ramshorn’s  Latin  Synonyms.^ingenui,/ree-&orn.— 
iustae  libertatis :  complete  and  legal  liberty.  This  was  obtained 
by  slaves  through  the  process  of  manumission  in  one  of  three 
ways,  viz.  vindicta,  censu,  testamento.  On  this  subject,  cf.  Diet. 
Antiq. — inter  amicos  datae,  sc.  libertatis.  This  was  not  really  a 
legal  manumission,  but  might  be  revoked  by  the  master.  Of. 
Diet.  Antiq.  • 

3.  quae  =  et  ea. — libero  aniino :  a  mind  that  acts  voluntarily, 
and  is  not  constrained. — apud  sapientem=a  sapiente. — Non  est 
ergo,  quod :  cf.  2, 1,  n.  ;  for  the  subj.  exaudiatis,  cf  De  Tranq.  1, 

2,  N. — 4.  Aliud  .  .  .  aliud,  one  thing  .  .  .  and  another. — Ille :  re¬ 
fers  to  which,  the  nearer  or  more  remote  subject  ?  cf  Lat.  Prose 
Comp.  377,.— inter  mala  volutor  plurima :  in  other  words,  I  am 
involved  in  the  weaknesses  and  imperfeetions  of  human  nature. 
— ad  formulam  meani :  according  to  a  rule  or  law  which  I  have 


304 


NOTES. 


laid  down  for  myself  to  follow. — Adsecutns  vero,  etc.,  hat  he  who 
has  attained  the  height  of  human  wisdom  (i.  e.  virtue). — Primuiii 
.  .  .  senteutiaiti,  firsts  you  are  not  to  ^mss  judgment  on  your  betters, 

6.  promittam  .  .  .  aestimem:  indirect  questions;  M.  356. — 
si  essent,  boiios  facerent :  for  the  Stoics  held  that  it  was  a  char¬ 
acteristic  of  good  always  to  confer  good ;  hence,  that  which  could 
be  used  both  for  good  and  evil  i)urposes  was  not  good — a  not 
very  cogent  conclusion. — adferentis  =  adferentes. 

XXV.— 1.  quid  praestein,  etc.,  lehat  I  value  in  them  differently 
from  you;  an  indii’ect  question;  M.  356. — aliud  quaiii:  aliud  in 
the  older  writers  stands  with  quam'va  negative  propositions,  or 
in  interrogatives  with  a  negative  sense.  In  writers  later  than 
Livy  this  distinction  is  not  observed ;  M.  444,  obs.  1. — suspiciain, 
honor  or  res'pect. — In  sublicium  pontem  :  where  mendicants  were 
accustomed  to  gather,  because  of  the  numbers  who  passed  by ; 
cf.  Juv.  Bat.  iv.  115 ;  xiv.  132 ;  Martial,  Epigram,  x.  5. — quid  enim 
ad  rem,  sc.  est.ffor  what  is  it  to  the  case  whether.,  etc.  Again  we 
have  the  Stoic  doctrine  of  suicide,  his  only  resource  under  certain 
trials  and  calamities.  Cf.  Be  Prov.  6,  6,  n. — deest :  what  is  its 
subject?  B.  &  M.  1147  ;  H.  549. 

2.  instrumeiitis  splendentibus :  such  as  golden  and  purple 
couches,  richly  carved  tables,  etc. ;  cf.  Be  Trang.  1,  3,  n.  ;  v.  1. 
stramenlis.  —  inolle  .  .  .  aniiculum ;  a  luxurious  purple  cloak 
made  of  the  finest  wool.  It  was  worn  at  supper  and  at  ban¬ 
quets. — purpura :  purple  couches  and  carpets ;  cf.  Cicero,  in  M. 
Anton.  {Philippica),  ii.  27,  67;  Virg.  Aen.  i.  700.— cervix  = 

— Circense  tomentum ;  a  cushion  made  of  cheap  wool  and  stuffed 
with  feathers,  or  more  frequently  with  chaff  and  broken  straw ; 
called  Circense,  says  Lips.,  because  they  were  to  be  purchased  at 
the  Circus,  or  because  the  poor  were  accustomed'  to  lie  upon 
them  at  that  place  ;  cf.  Martial,  Epig.  xiv.  159. — praetextatus, 
i.  e.  clad  in  the  robes  of  office.  Lips,  prefers  the  reading,  pexatus. 
— clilamydatus.  The  manuscripts  vary  much  here.  Haase  reads 
gausapatus;  other  readings  are,  candidatus,  causatus,  camisatus, 
canusinatus. — 3.  cedant  .  .  .  subtexantur :  concessive  subjs.,  the 
particle  licet  being  omitted. —  non  ob,  etc.,  sc.  taTnen. — bine  il- 
linc,/rm  every  quarter. — =zinfelix,  infaustus. 


DE  VITA  BEATA.  XXV.  4-XXVI.  5. 


305 


4.  ille,  i.  e.  celeberrimus. — delicatus  .  .  .  cnrrus :  the  triumphal 
cliariot  of  LUjer  or  Bacchus,  enriched  witli  gold  and  gems,  and 
wreathed  with  ivy  and  the  grape. — atl  Tliehas :  Thebes,  said  to 
be  the  birthplace  of  Bacchus,  and  to  which  he  returned  in  tri¬ 
umph  from  India,  which  country  he  had  subjugated. — Peiiatium : 
Fickert  suggests  whether  iura  Penatium  not  signify  ius  vitae 
or  veniam  vivendi^  and  quotes  Macrobius,  Saturn.  Gonviv.  iii.  4,  in 

.  illustration.  Lips,  approves  the  reading  Persarum.^  because  the 
Persians  were  the  most  powerful  nation  in  the  Orient. — fericu- 
lum  = fei'culum :  in  order  that  they  might  be  more  readily  seen, 
the  most  illustrious  captives  were  borne  on  the  ferculum  on  occa¬ 
sion  of  a  conqueror’s  triumph. — non  humilior,  etc.,  i.  e.  I  will  bear 
the  same  mind  as  I  would  were  I  the  triumphing  general. 

5.  veniant:  malo  sometimes  is  followed  by  the  subj.  with  or 
without  ut.,  instead  of  the  accus.  with  the  infin, ;  Z.  624. — stimu- 
lis :  as,  for  instance,  in  adversity. — frenis  :  as  in  prosperity. — 
0.  per  devexum,  down  a  declivity.,  i,  e,  without  difficulty. — Acer- 
rinias,  sc.  virtutes.  —  quae  suspensuiii  graduui,  i.  e.  which  ad¬ 
vance  with  leisure  step. 

XXVI.— 1.  Cum  hoc  ita  dirisum  sit,  since  this  distinction  has 
l>een  made.,  viz.,  in  respect  to  the  virtues  above  mentioned. — vos 
iiliter  auditis,  sc.  quam  loquor. — habere  voluiniis  ?  sc.  divitias. — 
Divitiae  enim,  etc. :  cf.  22, 1, 4,  n. — 2.  iiidictum  est :  an  allusion 
to  the  customary  and  formal  declaration  of  war  by  the  fetiales ; 
vid.  Livy,  i.  32,  5,  etc.— tamquam  .  .  .  possit  .  .  .  traiiscenderiiit 
.  .  .  siiit:  tamquam  is  a  particle  of  comparison,  introducing  a 
condition  of  which  the  conclusion  is  omitted  or  implied,  and  is 
usually  followed  by  the  present  or  perf.  subj,;  H,  503;  A,  &  G. 
312. 

3.  quo  iUa  pertineant,  what  end  these  (engines)  loould  serve ; 
cf.  Caesar,  Bell.  Gall.  ii.  30 ;  Tac.  Ann.  xii.  45. — Sapienti  .  .  ,  re- 
linquet;  cf.  words  of  Bias  of  Priene  (about  n.c.  550),  who,  al¬ 
though  he  had  lost  house,  wealth,  and  everything,  exclaimed, 
“  I  carry  all  my  property  with  me ;”  cf.  DeProv.  3,  3,  it. — 4.  ille  : 
cf.  25,  4,  N.— actum  vitae,  course  of  life. — vitiorum  :  governed  in 
gen,  by  inmunis. 

5.  Existimatio  .  .  .  your  good  name. — bouae  spei  eiura- 


306 


NOTES. 


tio  :  the  tliought  is  that  men  who  assail  virtue  are  to  be  despaired 
of ;  there  is  no  hope  of  moral  recovery  for  them,  since  they  for¬ 
swear  virtue. — sed  nc  dis  .  .  .  evertunt :  cf  De  Constant.  Sap.  4, 
2,  “  Even  as  celestial  things  are  not  subject  to  human  hands,  and 
they  that  overturn  temples  and  melt  images  can  in  no  way  hurt 
god,  so  whatever  is  maliciously  attempted  against  a  wise  man  is 
attempted  in  vain cf.  also,  De  Benef.  vii.  7,  3. 

6.  alas  inposuit:  an  allusion  to  Jupiter’s  visit,  in  the  form  of 
a  swan,  to  Leda,  by  whom  he  became  father  to  Castor,  Pollux, 
and  Helen.— alius  cornua :  he  assumed  the  form  of  a  bull,  when 
he  ravished  Europa. — saevum  in  deos ;  Jupiter  dethroned  Saturn, 
hurled  Vulcan  headlong  to  the  earth,  suspended  Juno  out  of 
heaven  by  her  feet,  etc.  —  raptorum,  etc.:  probably  an  allusion 
to  the  seizure  and  abduction  of  Granymede,  whom  Jupiter  made 
his  cup-bearer ;  cf.  Class.  Diet,  for  ancient  mythology. — quibus 
.  .  .  actum  est,  etc.,  ty  which  nothing  else  was  aimed  at,  etc.  In 
this  we  have  Seneca’s  estimate  of  the  noxious  tendency  of  pagan 
mythology.  We  can  judge,  also,  how  little  faith  cultivated  men 
of  his  day  put  in  the  popular  system  of  pagan  religion  then  pre¬ 
vailing. — liominibus :  ablat.  of  separation* 

7.  favete  linguis,  i.  e.  Jceep  silence.  When  the  sacred  name  of 
virtue  has  been  mentioned,  maintain  silence  if  you  can  say  noth¬ 
ing  in  her  praise,  or  in  praise  of  those  in  pursuit  of  her.  At  the 
celebration  of  ancient  religious  rites  silence  was  enjoined,  in 
order  that  there  might  not  be  any  disturbing  influence. — Hoc 
verbuin  .  .  .  obstrepeiite :  these  words  are  regarded  by  some  as 
an  interpolation,  but  they  are  found  in  all  the  books,  and  have 
reference  to  the  beginning  of  the  next  chapter. 

XXYII.-l.  oraculo,  i.  e.  of  virtue  or  a  virtuous  man. — sis- 
trum :  a  bronze  rattle,  according  to  Apuleius,  used  by  the  an¬ 
cient  Egyptians  in  their  religious  ceremonies,  especially  in  the 
worship  of  Isis.  (Cf.  Diet.  Antiq.)  The  Romans  became  familiar 
with  its  use  by  the  introduction  of  Isis-worship  into  Italy,  shortly 
before  the  Christian  era.  The  sistrum  is  still  used  in  Nubia  and 
Abyssinia. — secandi  .  .  ,  artifex,  i.  e.  a  priest  of  Bellona  or  Cy- 
bele. — suspensa  inanu,  with  sparing  laurum  :  a  symbol  of 

inspiration,  worn  by  the  priests  of  xVpollo,  used  here  in  connection 


DE  VITA  BEATA.  XXVII.  1-6. 


307 


with  ululat,  to  denote  a  claim  to  prophetic  powers.— liiitealus : 
after  the  maimer  of  the  Egyptian  priests.— diviiium,  divinely  in¬ 
spired. 

2,  transite,  i.  e.  in  silence;  ctfamte  Unguis^  26,  7, N. — Aristo- 
pliaui :  the  famous  comic  poet,  contemporary  with  Socrates,  etc. ; 
cf.  Class.  Diet.  —  iiiateriaiii  iocoruiii,  i.  e.  in  his  comedy  called 
“  The  Clouds,”  in  which  Socrates  is  sharply  satirized  as  the  head 
of  the  tribe  of  sophists,  and  tlie  corrupter  of  the  moral  principles  , 
of  the  youth.— maims,  hand  or  company^  referring  to  other  comic 
poets  of  the  day,  as  Eupolis,  Cratinus,  etc. 

3*  produci,  etc.,  to  he  dragged  forth  and  put  to  the  test.^  as  gladi¬ 
ators  and  athletes.— illi,  i.  e.  virtue.— in  vadoso  mari,  placed  in 
the  midst  of  a  restless  sea;  v.  1.  undoso ;  Lips.— 4.  main  suo  :  dat., 
to  its  own  harm. — Papulas  observatis,  etc.  The  philosopher  is 
represented  as  turning  upon  his  accusers.  Cf.  St.  Matt.  vii.  3-5 ; 
St.  Luke  vi.  41,  42. 

5.  Obicite  petierit  pecuuiam  :  when  he  voyaged  to 

Sicily  to  meet  Dionysius  and  Dion.  —  quod  acceperit,  sc.  jjecu- 
niam;  from  Alexander,  who  was  his  pupil,  and  who,  on  one  oc¬ 
casion,  presented  him  with  800  talents. — Democrito  :  cf.  Be  Prov. 
6, 1,  N. — quod  consumpserit :  it  was  charged  that  Epicurus  ex¬ 
pended  one  mina  per  day  for  articles  of  food. — milii  ipsi,  i.  e. 
Socrates,  in  whose  mouth  is  put  this  address  to  the  detractors 
of  the  wise  man.  Some  would  refer  this  and  the  following  to 
Seneca,  on  account  of  chronological  difficulties  in  making  Soc¬ 
rates  speak  of  Aristotle  and  Epicurus,  who  were  not  born  till 
after  Socrates’s  death ;  but  there  is  so  little  propriety  in  consid¬ 
ering  the  words  as  coming  from  Seneca  that  it  seems  better  to 
regard  them  here  as  a  sort  of  poetic  license  or  anticipation. — 
Alcibiadem  :  a  man  of  fine  abilities,  but  utterly  lacking  in  moral 
principle,  although  he  had  been  a  pupil  and  admirer  of  Socrates. 
Alcibiades  is  the  young  man  who  is  represented  by  Aristophanes, 
in  “  The  Clouds,”  as  corrupted  by  the  sophistries  of  Socrates. 
Cf.  §  2,  N. — Pliaedrum  :  a  friend  of  Plato’s,  and  also  one  of  Soc¬ 
rates’s  pupils.  Very  little  is  known  of  him.  Plato  gives  the 
name  Phaedrus  to  one  of  his  Dialogues. 

0.  0  VOS  iisu  maxiine,  etc.,  i,  e.  happy  would  you  be  if  in  your 
daily  experience  you  would  endeavor  to  follow  the  lives  of  wise 


308 


NOTES. 


men,  since  in  that  event  you  would  acquire  tlie  name  of  seekers, 
even  if  you  could  not  become  the  possessors  of  wisdom  ;  Micha- 
elis. — VOS;  accus.  of  exclamation.  —  eo  loco  =  faZi  loco^  i.  e.  all 
men  are  not  in  such  condition  as  you. 

XXVIII.  — VOS,  etc.  Socrates  continues  to  speak. — fortunae : 
dat.  governed 'by  alienum. — quibus :  dat.  of  interest. — iiimineaut 
.  .  .  accesserint :  indirect  questions. — Quid  porro  ?  sc.  dicam. — 
etiam  si  paruiii  sentitis,  even  if  you  scarcely  discern  it. — *  *  *  ♦  *  * 
The  close  of  this  treatise  is  lost.  Some  critics  are  in  favor  of 
joining  the  imperfect  treatise,  Otio  aut  Secessii  Sapientis.,  to  the 
present,  but  with  no  good  or  sufRcient  reason,  since  its  content® 
and  treatment  are  quite  diverse  from  the  De  Vita  Beata. 


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